UP Ends 15-Year Final Four Drought in UAAP Women’s Basketball
The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons has secured a ticket to the postseason in the UAAP Women’s Basketball after a 15-year gap.
The team’s victory came after they defeated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 70-55, in their third game of Wednesday’s Season 86 quadruple-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Following this win, the Fighting Maroons now hold a 9-2 record and are currently in second place. This victory maintains UP’s hold on the second-place standing and gives them a one-and-a-half-game lead over the third-running University of Santo Tomas.
In a statement, Fighting Maroons head coach Paul Ramos said, “Process goal lang talaga namin this year (‘yung makapasok ng Final Four). My happiness is short-lived kasi after today, we’re already targeting our next game.”
The game was marked by a balanced attack from the Fighting Maroons, with Kaye Pesquera leading the team with 17 points. Other significant contributors were Christie Bariquit, Achrissa Maw, and Rizza Lozada, each with 11 points.
FEU’s defeat combined with De La Salle University’s loss to National University earlier secured a playoff spot for Ateneo de Manila University for a Final Four berth.
Both the Fighting Maroons and FEU will be back in action this weekend, with UP going up against La Salle and FEU facing Ateneo at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
