After wrapping the semis with a failed match for a finals berth, the De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Lady Stallions will vie against San Beda College – Alabang (SBC- Alabang) Red Lionesses for the third place in the basketball game of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA-South) to be held at Philippine Christian University (PCU), Dasmariñas, Cavite, today, Jan. 29.
The Lady Stallions’ hopes for a championship match ended last Jan. 25 with a dramatic loss by only one point to Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Lady Vanguards in the semifinals.
Close win against EAC
It was a nail-biting game between DLSL and EAC.
Joyce Ann Imbang of the Lady Stallions started the game with a foul shot followed by a perimeter shot from her team captain Allen Punzalan. The two gave the Lipa-based squad a lead on the scoreboard during the first minutes of the game, 4-9.
However, the Lady Vanguards soon stole the momentum dominating the end of the first quarter with a 19-14 score.
But the Lady stallions strengthened their defense, giving the Vanguards a hard time securing the first half, 27-33.
Lyrille Siscar of DLSL entered the fray in the succeeding quarter, and with collaborated moves from Imbang’s speed dribble and short sprints courtesy of Patrizia Clarisse Castillo, DLSL dumped 19 points to close the gap, 42-35.
But EAC point guard Jade Valenzuela was unstoppable despite the offense of the Stallions’ power duo, Imbang and Siscar, maintaining the EAC lead at 52-47.
During the fourth quarter, the Lady Stallions showed dominance of the whole court with Siscar’s three-point breakthroughs and foul-saving shots on the last 14 seconds of the shot clock, 64-63.
However, the Lady Vanguards answered back when Valenzuela precisely hit a two-point perimeter shot in the last 6.6 seconds of the fourth quarter, accruing a total of 20 points for their team, with five rebounds and five assists, crushing the high hopes of the Lady Stallions, 65-64.
“Maganda yung laban nila even though Lasalle ang underdog sa first half, actually di lang nag-sho-shoot yung mga bola pero maganda yung hussle [nila], lagi silang nakakarebound,” Andre Co, official commentator of the National Basketball League (NBL) said.
Co also praised Lady Vanguards’ quick plays, fast rebounds and shooting skills which according to him, lead EAC to victory and a run for the championship title.
