After being drubbed by 54 points in their last assignment for the first round, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses started the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament second round with a 70-62 victory over the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons.
Shanda Anies and Ruby Portillo led UST with 20 and 14 points respectively, today at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
“Of course we’re happy even if we didn’t play what I expected them to play, but a win is a win and we needed that,” commented UST mentor Haydee Ong after the game.
The Growling Tigresses suffered a bad start to the contest as they allowed the Lady Maroons to pick up a 33-37 advantage at halftime.
It was after the break that UST clawed their way back in the game. A 10-0 run capped off by Anies gave the Growling Tigresses a 43-39 lead early in the third quarter.
From that moment, UST took control of the game, as the Growling Tigresses ended the third quarter with a 53-47 cushion above the Lady Maroons.
Ong explained, “Actually sinabi namin we need to intensify yung defense namin. Feeling namin they were not giving their all out sa defense. Nag-respond naman yung mga girls. We had a run. Yun na yun, nag-lead until the end of the game.”
UST then achieved their biggest lead of the ballgame when an Anies trey gave the Growling Tigresses a 58-49 edge from the Lady Maroons.
UP, though, didn’t back down from the fight, and two free throws from Christine Aliermo cut the deficit to 59-62.
Fortunately for UST, Sofia Felisarta produced six out of her nine points in the final stages of the game. With just 1:10 to go, Felisarta scored to make it 69-62 in favor of UST, as the Growling Tigresses ended up 70-62 winners at the Lady Maroons’ expense.
Coach Ong’s squad outgunned UP to win the game. The Growling Tigresses shot 35.29 percent from beyond the arc and achieved a 42.86 percent field goal percentage, compared to the Lady Maroons’ 19.23 percent and 32.81 percent respectively.
Up next for UST (3-5) will be De La Salle University on October 18, 10:00 AM at the FilOil Arena, while UP (1-7) will face Adamson University on October 15, 10:00 AM at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“We’re looking forward pa rin to the adjustments we need to adjust, like yung mga press break namin, especially since we’re going against La Salle on our second game,” Ong admitted in conclusion.
The Scores:
UST (70) – Anies 20, Portillo 14, Felisarta 9, Gandalla 8, Angeles 7, Rivera 5, Penaflor 3, Larosa 2, Manuel 2, Magdaluyo 0, Aujero 0, Capilit 0, Jerez 0, Sangalang.
UP (62) – Wong 21, Pesquera 13, Medina 9, Aliermo 9, Esplana 4, Bautista 4, Ordoveza 2, Rodas 0, Lapid 0, Franco 0, Cruz 0, Tan 0, Gatpatan 0, Ongsiako 0, Villanueva 0, Viray 0.
Quarterscores: 16-22, 33-37, 53-47, 70-62.
