Filipina hooper Vanessa De Jesus dazzles in US NCAA opener

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina prized hooper Vanessa De Jesus kicked off her 2021-22 US NCAA Division I campaign on a high note after helping the Duke Blue Devils annihilate Winthrop, 95-39.

Fresh off a stellar 2020-2021 ACC league stint with the Blue Devils, De Jesus contributed in almost all facets of the game as she tallied seven points, six rebounds, and a team-high eight assists in 24 minutes of action.

De Jesus shrugged off game jitters as she immediately let her presence known two minutes after her number got called by the coaching staff.

The Filipina star’s intensity and court-awareness helped the Blue Devils rack a 35-10 run to close the first half with a 44-16 lead.

In just 13 minutes of exposure, the productive De Jesus already chipped in five points, five assists, and six rebounds.

The last 20 minutes of the game went Duke’s way as their patient defensive sets didn’t allow Winthrop to take control of any quarter to get back into the game.

Lexi Gordon led the Blue Devils with 17 huge points while veteran Celeste Taylor added 16 more markers.

De Jesus and the Blue Devils aim to clinch their second win in a row when they travel and face the Dayton Flyers on the road.