Defending champion University of Santo Tomas ended the Finals hopes of Ateneo de Manila University, 146-36, to make an emphatic return to the win column in the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Eager to bounce back from a loss to rival National University Nazareth School Lady Bullpups to close the first round, the Junior Growling Tigresses leaned on Pia Petalcorin, Riri Perez, and Indonesian center Koukou Talla for a dominant first-half surge that kept the Blue Eagles at bay for the rest of the contest.
Talla starred with 27 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and three assists, while Petalcorin added 18 points, four steals, and three rebounds, as UST dashed Ateneo’s hopes of reaching the Finals for the third consecutive tournament.
With the win, the Junior Growling Tigresses solidified their hold on solo second place in the four-team field with a 3-1 record, while the Blue Eagles remain winless through four outings.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We’re not really happy with what happened today. We’re still a work in progress and it’s still early into the second round so we have a lot of room for improvement,” UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco said.
“We’re still trying to adjust and trying to get the optimum rotation especially. We’re almost there, hopefully I can do my job better to give the team the best chance at bringing their game out,” he added.
After a dominant 44-11 first-quarter performance, the Junior Growling Tigresses further broke the game wide open in the second frame, limiting the Blue Eagles to just five points on 2-of-10 shooting while scoring 30 points of their own to build a commanding 74-16 halftime lead.
UST kept its foot on the gas in the third period, as six consecutive points from Talla, along with back-to-back inside baskets from Yuyi Capinpin and Zia Kallos, left Ateneo staring at a 114-25 deficit entering the payoff period.
The Junior Growling Tigresses shot an efficient 70-of-132 from the field, hauled down 88 rebounds, and recorded 31 steals, while forcing the Blue Eagles to shoot just 12-of-59, commit 41 turnovers, and grab only 18 rebounds.
UST also leaned on its fast-paced offense, scoring 68 fastbreak points while holding Ateneo scoreless in that category.
Janice Oczon added 17 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Perez nearly posted a triple-double with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Lea Pinuela contributed 14 points, six steals, and four assists, while Capinpin and Sandra Abrantes rounded out the Junior Growling Tigresses’ balanced attack with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
UST shoots for its second straight win when it faces De La Salle Zobel on Saturday, February 21, at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Tyler Templo led the Blue Eagles in the loss with 18 points but shot just 5-of-20 from the field and committed 17 turnovers, while Zoe Ablang added eight points, five assists, and two rebounds.
Ateneo will take a 14-day break before facing DLSZ in a rivalry clash on Sunday, March 1, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Scores:
UST (146) – Talla 28, Petalcorin 18, Oczon 17, Perez 16, Pinuela 14, Capinpin 12, Abrantes 11, Anacan 8, Kallos 8, Townes 8, Mateo 4, Hew 3.
Ateneo (36) – Templo 18, Ablang 8, Ebao 5, Molina 3, Palmiery 2, Dalanon 0, Doque 0, Mariano 0, Chuidian 0, Madamba 0, Trillo 0.
Quarterscores: 44-11, 74-16, 114-25, 146-36.
