La Salle's Kyla Go in action against UP in the UAAP Season 88 women's basketball tournament, November 22, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media
MANILA -- De La Salle University kept alive its slim Final 4 hopes in the UAAP Season 88 women's basketball tournament after a narrow 75-73 win over the University of the Philippines, Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Kyla Go was unstoppable in her return from a one-game suspension, torching UP for 34 points on top of five rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Her heroics helped the Lady Archers snap a three-game skid and stay in the hunt for the last semifinal berth with a 5-8 record.
This marked Go's second straight 30-point outing, following her 32-point eruption in a narrow 62-64 loss to FEU last Sunday, November 16.
"We just played smart down the stretch, especially doon sa few possessions na we needed to execute properly and get a good shot. It's a good thing na towards the end, especially Kyla Go and si Jane Araza and all the guys that were inside, are executing things the right way and not turning the ball over," said La Salle head coach Cholo Villanueva.
Trailing 38-43 at halftime, the Lady Archers opened the third quarter with a pivotal 20-9 surge — highlighted by a five-point burst from Paulina Anastacio and a free throw from Aiesha Dizon — to reclaim a 58-52 lead with three minutes left in the frame.
La Salle seemed in control with a 71-61 cushion early in the fourth, but UP mounted a late charge behind back-to-back inside baskets from Achrissa Maw and Louna Ozar, plus three Shane Cunanan free throws. The 12-3 run cut the deficit to 74-71 with 57.4 seconds remaining.
That was the closest the Fighting Maroons would get. After Kyla Sunga committed a turnover on an inbound play, BB Barba missed a potential game-tying floater on the other end, allowing the Lady Archers to hang on and keep their postseason hopes alive.
Anastacio tallied 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and one block before fouling out with under a minute left, while Tricia Mendoza added eight points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists. Sunga contributed five points and 11 rebounds, while Steph Villapando had five points, three steals, and one block.
UP, which opened the season with a promising 2-0 start, lost 11 of its next 12 games to finish at 3-11 — its lowest showing since a 1-13 campaign in Season 82.
Cunanan led the Fighting Maroons with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and one steal. Maw added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Marielle Vingno also scored 10 alongside three rebounds and a steal. Ozar capped her Season 88 with nine points, four steals, three rebounds, and three assists.
The Scores:
DLSU (75) - Go 34, Anastacio 17, Mendoza 8, Sunga 5, Villapando 5, A. Dizon 3, S. Dizon 3, Camba 0, Araza 0, Dela Paz 0, Lubrico 0, Delos Reyes 0, Catalan 0.
UP (73) - Cunanan 21, Maw 10, Vingno 10, Ozar 9, Mendoza 6, Solitario 6, Nolasco 4, Pesquera 4, Barba 3, Tapawan 0, Mejasco 0, Evangelista 0.
Quarterscores: 17-23, 38-43, 64-56, 75-73.