Knowing Lore Rivera will not be suiting up anymore for the UST Growling Tigresses, head coach Chris Cantonjos focused on a different approach this season to make his team competitive even with the absence of UAAP women’s basketball’s top scorer last year. The Growling Tigresses defeated last year’s runner-up FEU Lady Tamaraws, 65-58 Sunday to start their post-Rivera campaign on a good note. Cantonjos says it all starts with opportunities in transition, and sharing the basketball on offense. “Nawalan kami ng Lore Rivera kaya ang nangyayari ngayon nagra-run and gun kami,” Cantonjos shared. “Kapag walang shot sa loob, we go to extra passes. Kapag wala ulit, we drive ulit. We run and try to connect sa fastbreak. Kapag wala, we drive and kick.”
Lore Rivera drives to the basket against the Lady Tamaraws
Candice Magdaluyo, Jhenn Angeles, and Shanda Anies all finished in double digits in the match, showing that anyone can take charge for the España crew now. “Noong nawala na nga siya, sabi ko, bakit hindi natin ipasok ang mga ibang technique. So sa first game, naging successful siya, baka ituloy natin ang mga pangyayari,” Cantonjos quipped of his ladies’ aggressiveness. UST controlled most of the match, leading by as much as 16 although there were points the Growling Tigresses went on individual plays, something Cantonjos wants to solve moving forward. “Gusto nilang mag-shoot at nawala yung pag create ng mga plays. One touch then shoot agad ang gusto. Noong nag-timeout ako, sabi ko, i-run natin ang plays,” he said. With a big win to open Season 78 and tools to do the task at hand, the Growling Tigresses look to make it back to the Final Four.
