Lady Archers, Lady Tams loom as top 2 in Fr. Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines - De La Salle Lady Archers and Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws repulsed their rivals Sunday and emerged as among the top finals contenders of the women's division in the 19th Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

Ara Abaca scored the winning basket for the Lady Archers, who escaped with a 49-47 triumph over the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.

The Lady Tamaraws, led by Banjo Soriano and Apple Albano with 13 points, struck hard early and walloped the Fatima University Lady Phoenix, 90-36.

The Lady Archers went on to post their fifth win in six games, while the Lady Tamaraws marched to their third triumph in five outings.

Last Thursday, the Letran Squires continued their winning ways, with incoming high school seniors Ivan Villanueva and Yves Sazon showing the way with 20 and 14 points as they waylaid the San Beda-B Red Cubs, 76-58.

It was the Squires' fifth straight win in Group B of the junior division.

Abaca drove in with 17 seconds, and her heroics came after the Tigresses(4-3), rallied from seven points down, and tied the match 47-all, off a charity from Lore Rivera.

Teammates Jona Melendres, Miller Ong, Inna Corcuera and Nicky Garcia fired six points apiece for the Lady Archers, who stayed at the no. 1 spot.