The lady hoopers of UAAP Season 86 have flipped the switch as the battle for a semifinals slot nears its crescendo. On Wednesday, the tournament’s best of the best once again stepped up, hoping to take their teams a step closer to the promised land. Vol. 10 seemed to be a tough act to follow as it featured clutch performances, sprinkled with eye-popping numbers, but the 11th edition says otherwise.
5 Sarah Makunjuola – Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo’s big out of Nigeria played really big in her squad’s 69-61 win over the Adamson Lady Falcons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Makunjuola went to work, posting 10 points and 20 rebounds to help her team stay put at the fourth spot in the standings. With a 7-4 slate, the Blue Eagles are currently three games ahead of fifth placers De La Salle Green Archers.
4 Kaye Pesquera – UP Fighting Maroons
The Fighting Maroons clinched a Final Four berth after they dispatched the FEU Tamaraws in the same building, 70-55. The Diliman-based crew got a boost from Kaye Pesquera who finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and three steals. She did all that in just 26 minutes. We know UP is 9-2 and all under its current setup but maybe Pesquera needs to let it fly some more.
3 Kacey dela Rosa – Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo’s other big also did a major flex against Adamson. Yep, KDR towered over the Lady Falcons as she tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks. With dela Rosa showing out like a prototype frontcourt player alongside an inspired Makanjula, the Blue Eagles are just yikes for the opposing teams.
2 Jainaba Konateh – NU Bulldogs
“Ako na, ‘te.” That’s what NU’s 19-year-old foreign student athlete should’ve said when she took over in her squad’s 73-64 victory over La Salle. Konateh woke up and chose violence, resulting in a 17-point, 17-rebound outing. The Lady Bulldogs may not look as invincible as they were in the past years but their current record is still 10-1 and they have players like Konateh who can explode at any given moment. You need sound advice? Well, never ever doubt the champs.
1 Jhazmin Joson – Ateneo Blue Eagles
Jhaz Curry was in the building! That’s why the Lady Falcons really had no shot at pulling off the upset. Hitting 8-of-17 from beyond the arc, Joson erupted for a UAAP career-high 32 buckets. Aside from torching the nets and her defenders, the Gilas Pilipinas star also chipped in five rebounds and as many assists. She was simply En Fuego!
Yep, three Blue Eagles made the list and Jhaz was the best of them all.
(CF)