UAAP women’s basketball: Ateneo hands UP its first loss

Jhazmin Joson and Junize Calago joined hands to help Ateneo hand league-leading University of the Philippines its first loss, 85-76, to end the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Adamson University Gym.

The Blue Eagles bounced back from their lopsided defeat against University of Santo Tomas, 90-67, to end the opening round on a bright note for a 5-2 slate.

Joson finished with an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc to go along with four assists, while Calago delivered a double-double outing of 24 markers and 12 rebounds.

Kacey Dela Rosa and Sandra Villacruz poured 11 and 10 points, respectively, on the winning end.

Down by as much as 63-72 in the fourth quarter with 7:13 left, UP managed to pull itself within just six.

However, Joson doused the Fighting Maroons’ fightback in the closing period with a triple as the Blue Eagles stayed ahead.

From then on, UP struggled to convert consistent baskets to completely crawl back from the manageable deficit.

Favour Onoh contributed a double-double showing of her own with 16 points and 18 rebounds as UP absorbed its first defeat for a 6-1 record heading into the next round.