By MARIA EDEN T. DINO
THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (AB) Women’s Basketball Team settled for first runner-up in this year’s Thomasian Goodwill Games after surrendering to defending champion Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) in the Finals Game 2, 32-65, Thursday at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
IPEA first halted AB’s winning streak last Wednesday, 35-77.
IPEA’s Nicole Gutierrez brought AB most of its damages after finishing the game with 16 points along with Tina Penus and Jona Angeles who both scored 14 points.
No one from AB was able to score with double digits.
IPEA’s defensive pressure kept AB far from victory, finishing off the third quarter with a 21-point lead, 48-27.
Continuing to fire up in the last quarter, IPEA blasted a 6-0 run, 61-29, in the efforts of Gutierrez, Angeles, and Penus. However, a foul marred the team’s momentum, enabling AB’s Bea Diwa to blow a free throw.
A minute away from winning the tourney, IPEA’s Janela Nartates and Gutierrez released two pointers which secured the squad’s championship.
Despite loss, AB team captain Jonne Senga remained thankful as they ranked up from last year’s third to this season’s first place.
“Masaya kasi hindi namin ine-expect. Lagi namin sinasabi, ‘One game at a time’ tapos hindi namin ine-expect na makakarating kami dito, [n]a makakakuha kami ng trophy. […] ‘Yung makapaglaro kami dito sobra-sobra na,” Senga told the Flame. F
