NU and defending champion UST remain the top-2 in Season 87, but Adamson is surging and Ateneo has the potential back-to-back MVP in UAAP women's basketball.
After round 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball, the league’s top teams have asserted themselves, while others are still finding their rhythm.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s performance so far as they gear up for Round 2.
NU Lady Bulldogs (7-0)
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The NU Lady Bulldogs have reclaimed part of their dominance in the league, finishing round 1 undefeated.
After losing the championship last season, NU seems determined to make a statement. Two of their wins were close calls, beating UST 75-69 and Ateneo 66-58, but they remain at the top of the standings, looking every bit like the powerhouse they’ve been in previous seasons.
This is the first time since UAAP Season 76 that the Lady Bulldogs are not defending champions, adding extra motivation to their campaign.
UST Growling Tigresses (6-1)
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Coming off their first UAAP title in 17 years in Season 86, the UST Growling Tigresses have been impressive, suffering only one loss in round 1 — a narrow 75-69 defeat to NU.
UST’s strong start positions the champs as the biggest rival to NU, as the Tigresses continue to ride the wave of their championship momentum.
Adamson Lady Falcons (5-2)
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Adamson is enjoying its best start in 12 years, already exceeding last season’s win total of four games.
The Lady Falcons have been revitalized, making a strong case for a return to the Final Four after missing the playoffs for the past two seasons.
Their only losses came against NU and UST, both finalists from last season, showing that Adamson is capable of competing at a high level.
Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-3)
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Ateneo’s reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa has been a consistent force for the Blue Eagles, recording double-doubles in all seven games of round 1.
But despite her stellar play, Ateneo struggled to keep pace with the top teams, finishing 4-3 after losing to NU in their final round 1 game.
Nevertheless, the Blue Eagles remain in playoff contention, thanks largely to Dela Rosa’s dominant performances.
UP Fighting Maroons (3-4)
[Related: UPWBT face ‘underdog’ status after up-and-down first round in UAAP Season 87]
After a strong 6-1 start in round 1 last season, UP has had a tough time finding consistency in Season 87.
Without Favour Onoh, last year’s Rookie of the Year and a key foreign student-athlete, the Fighting Maroons have struggled to maintain the same level of play.
UP snapped a two-game losing skid with a win over La Salle to end round 1, but will need a stronger showing in round 2 to stay in the hunt for a Final Four spot.
UE Lady Warriors (1-6)
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The UE Lady Warriors made headlines by winning their first game in five years, defeating the DLSU Lady Archers.
However, they were unable to sustain that momentum, losing three consecutive games since. Despite their struggles, UE’s victory was a major milestone for the program, and they’ll look to build on that win as they head into round 2.
DLSU Lady Archers (1-6)
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DLSU’s struggles have continued this season after missing the Final Four last year.
Starting the season 0-4, including a loss to UE that gave the Lady Warriors their first win in five years, the Lady Archers have yet to find their footing.
Despite securing a win over FEU, they have since dropped back-to-back games. DLSU will need to regroup if they hope to turn things around in round 2.
FEU Lady Tamaraws (1-6)
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The FEU Lady Tamaraws have had a challenging season under first-year head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy.
Playing without foreign student-athlete Josee Kaputu, a key member of last year’s Mythical Five, for six games, and dealing with suspensions to Kaputu and Shane Salvani, FEU struggled to find consistency.
FEU ended round 1 on a four-game losing skid and will need significant improvements in round 2 to climb out of the bottom of the standings.
(With reports from Luisa Morales/One Sports)
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]