Kyla Go the hero as the La Salle Lady Archers got a winning end to UAAP Season 88 women's basketball, stunning Ateneo in a close call.
Kyla Go could not be stopped, drilling the game-winner to give De La Salle University a triumphant end to its UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball campaign, stunning arch-rival Ateneo de Manila University, 73–72, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Go, a transferee out of Far Eastern University, scored her 31st and 32nd point of the game with a floater off a perfectly timed screen by Kyla Sunga with 2.3 seconds left, putting the Lady Archers on top.
With one last chance, the Blue Eagles went to reigning two-time MVP Kacey Dela Rosa down low, but she could not convert as the buzzer sounded.
Go made contact with Dela Rosa while contesting the final play, but no foul was called as time expired, sealing La Salle’s 6–8 finish at sixth place.
The Lady Archers and the FEU Lady Tamaraws both ended with identical records, but FEU owned the tiebreaker to finish fifth.
Adamson University, on the strength of a second-round surge, locked up the last Final Four berth with a 7–7 record.
“It was a big shot that won us the game. Kyla’s composure, calmness, mental toughness down the stretch on making the right plays gave us the win tonight,” said La Salle head coach Cholo Villanueva.
Go delivered 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in the win. This was her second straight 30-point performance after dropping 35 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists against the University of the Philippines last Saturday.
“Lamang ng isa ‘yung Ateneo and para na rin po sa mga seniors namin na gagraduate. Idinededicate din po namin ito sa kanila kaya gusto naming manalo kahit na kinapos po kami sa Final Four,” said Go.
It was a tightly contested game until the final possession—a fitting end to the elimination round—with Ateneo’s 66–63 edge early in the fourth quarter standing as the last multi-point lead by either team.
Paulina Anastacio added 10 points and 10 rebounds for La Salle, while the Dizon sisters, Shantei and Aiesha, also stepped up.
Shantei chipped in nine points and three rebounds, while Aiesha contributed six points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
Tricia Mendoza and Mica Camba have played their final game for the Lady Archers.
Ateneo, which ended the eliminations at 8–6, enters the stepladder on a two-game skid following losses to Adamson and La Salle.
The Blue Eagles will face the Lady Falcons in a knockout stepladder game on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Dela Rosa posted 22 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, and four steals but also had nine turnovers.
Kai Oani added 13 points, while Sarah Makanjuola finished with nine points and 14 rebounds.
The Scores:
DLSU (73) – Go 32, Anastacio 10, S. Dizon 9, A. Dizon 6, Villapando 6, Sunga 4, Mendoza 4, Dela Paz 2. Delos Reyes 0, Araza 0, Camba 0, Villarin 0.
Ateneo (72) – Dela Rosa 22, Oani 13, Makanjoula 9, Malagar 8, Villacruz 6, Cancio 5, Batungbakal 4, De Luna 3, H. Lopez 2, Cruza 0.
Quarterscores: 30-23, 50-45, 60-59, 73-72.