Onoh, Ozar end UP's 12-year losing spell to NU in UAAP women's hoops

MANILA, Philippines — After 12 long years, the UP Fighting Maroons were finally able to get a win past the eight-peat-seeking NU Lady Bulldogs, holding on, 72-69, in their first round UAAP Season 86 clash at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday.

Flaunting their blue chip recruit Louna Ozar and foreign student athlete Favour Onoh, the Maroons handed the Lady Bulldogs only their second loss in the last eight UAAP seasons.

Ozar sealed the win late in the game off of a Christie Bariquit steal to push UP’s lead to 72-67 with only 2.5 seconds left in the ball game.

But it was Onoh who powered a strong start for the Maroons that saw them leading by double-digits, 43-31, at the halftime break.

Onoh tallied a double-double of 18 points, and 15 boards, to go along with an assist, four steals and four blocks.

Even as the Maroons seized control of the ball game early, the Lady Bulldogs came out with a fight after the break with back-to-back triples from Camille Clarin jumpstarting a sizzling NU run.

In the third, they outscored UP, 19-6, to finish ahead going into the final salvo, 50-49.

But key baskets from the likes of Onoh, Bariquit, Ozar, and Kaye Pesquera stymied the 8-peat seeking NU in the end game.

Bariquit and Pequera breached double figures with 13 and 11 markers, respectively.

Ozar, meanwhile, had nine points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. She was also an efficient 4-of-6 on the field.

UP head coach Paul Ramos expressed his pride in the team after the victory, but insisted that there was still a lot of work to be done.

“We’re just really happy and we’re gonna celebrate the moment but we didn’t come here this season just to win a game against NU,” he said. 

“We have a mission, we have to get that. We’re lucky and we’re blessed to have this win. Respect to NU, they brought out the best in our team. They’re a formidable team. But we’re just happy that the majority of the game plan was followed and all the recognition [to the players].”

Karl Pingol and Camille Clarin paced the Lady Bulldogs in the losing effort with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Maroons improve to 3-0 while the Lady Bulldogs fall to 2-1.

Earlier, Ateneo tallied its second win of the season, defeating Adamson 69-59.

The Katipunan-based squad jumped to an early 20-10 lead at the end of the opening period.

UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year Kacey Dela Rosa did the heavy lifting as she finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, four steals and three blocks.

Junize Calaago and Jhazmin Joson chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

Ateneo improved to 2-1 while Adamson fell to 0-3.