Can’t nobody hold them down!
The ladies were still at it on the second game day of the women’s basketball tournament in UAAP Season 86. Once again, some of the league’s best players put on a show for school pride and glory. Vol. I featured outings that scorched the stat sheets. Fittingly, the second edition boasts stat lines that are hotter than summertime in the Philippines.
5. Luisa San Juan - De La Salle Green Archers
UAAP’s most storied rivalry continued to burn on Wednesday as the Lady Archers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles battled it out all the way to overtime, which resulted in an 87-80 Ateneo win. Leading La Salle’s gallant stand was San Juan who finished with 29 points and five boards. Her offensive outburst may have come up short but no one can deny that she lit up the ladies from Katipunan.
4. Josee Kaputu - FEU Tamaraws
Making a return to the elite list is the Tamaraws’ foreign student-athlete as she posted her second straight 27-point game. Although Kaputu's buckets came in a losing effort, scoring that much while grabbing 11 boards was no small feat as she did it against the mighty NU Lady Bulldogs. The seven-time defending champs withstood Kaputu’s onslaught and took home a 95-58 triumph.
3. Kacey dela Rosa - Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo forward brought her Gilas Pilipinas experience in the hotly contested game against archrival La Salle. Punching in 13 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, she helped the Blue Eagles secure their first victory of the season. Sky is truly the limit for this flourishing young big.
2. Junize Calago - Ateneo Blue Eagles
A lot of Blue Eagles stepped up in the showdown against La Salle. The best showing out of all of them came courtesy of Calago who recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. She really did it all. Don’t be surprised if she completes a triple-double in Ateneo’s next couple of games.
1. Kent Pastrana - UST Growling Tigresses
Leading the Growling Tigresses to their second consecutive win was Pastrana. After tallying 20 points and 11 boards in their opening game, she decided to do an encore as she notched 28 markers, two rebounds, four dimes, and three steals in UST’s 84-65 victory over the Adamson Lady Falcons in the latter’s home turf. Pastrana won Rookie of the Year honors in Season 82 and she’s an early favorite to win the MVP plum this time around.