UAAP Women's Hoops: NU goes 52-0 as UE shock Ateneo

A dominant Rhena Itesi demolishes the Adamson Lady Falcons' defenses as she displays the might of the reigning and undefeated defending champions in the UAAP Season 80 Women's Basketball Tournament. 

By Kevin Estrada

PASAY -- NU and UE won big in Sunday's UAAP Women's Basketball doubleheaders at the MOA Arena, with the defending champions getting their 52nd straight win in the most shocking way.

The defending champions grounded Adamson in the very first quarter en route to a 82-38 massacre that got them their fourth straight win of the year.

Patrick Aquino's Lady Bulldogs never gave the Lady Falcons even a millimeter of breathing space as they ended the game in the first ten minutes with a 21-point lead, 27-6.

Rhena Itesi came up two points short of a 20-20 game but made it up for it with 22 rebounds.

Ria Nabalan also made a double-double of 14 and 12, as she, Itesi and Jack Animam alone outrebounded the entire Adamson team by 10, as NU put leads by as much as 53 in a dominating display.

UE Lady Warriors' Ruthlaine Tacula took advantage of the struggling Ateneo Lady Eagles' defense to drop a high 20 points.

In the early morning curtain-raiser, UE prevailed over Ateneo after pulling away in the fourth quarter to  win 62-51, after both teams exchanged runs and leads all throughout the game.

The Lady Warriors have maximized their prowess in the even-numbered periods, limiting the Lady Eagles to a combined 13 markers in the second and fourth quarters.

Ruthlaine Tacula fired 20 markers for UE who got their third straight win, pulling Ateneo down to even 2-2.

Eunique Chan collared a double double of 17 points and 10 rebounds as she outperformed Tina Deacon in the entire game.

Ateneo lead after the first and third periods but they were outplayed by UE in the even quarters.

Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada