Fil-Aussie steers Ateneo past La Salle

Fil-Aussie Cassy Tioseco came away with a double-double game as Nutri-C-Ateneo pummeled Sunkist-La Salle, 60-46, Saturday night to open its title campaign in the revival of the Women’s Philippine Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The six-foot Tioseco, a key figure in Ateneo’s past championships in the UAAP, scored 23 points and hauled down 21 rebounds to power the Eagles to a rousing victory over their arch rivals.

“I expect the team to play stronger as the tournament progresses,” said Tioseco, a national team mainstay who added four shot blocks and two assists.

It was Ateneo’s first win over La Salle this year after the former was swept by the latter in two games in the just concluded Season 71 of the UAAP tournament.

“We lost to La Salle twice in the UAAP because most of my players were rookies,” said Nutri-C coach Haydee Ong. “But with Cassy and a lot of our former players around, we’re hard to beat.”

The Lady Eagles gave the Lady Archers little room to operate and unloaded a 21-7 run behind Tioseco and Marylyn Matreo to seize the momentum early. – Joey Villar