Candice Magdaluyo and Shanda Anies came through with decisive blows as the University of Santo Tomas upended a hard-fighting University of the Philippines, 58-52 Sunday in the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Tigresses opened the match on an 8-0 behind six points from Penaflor, as they pressured the Lady Maroons using a full court trap to get turnovers and create offense.
But an 11-0 blast from UP later in the second period transformed a 10-15 deficit to a 21-15 lead.
UP took a 22-17 halftime cushion although the UST side opened the third period with 11 unanswered points of their own, behind 8 combined from Cortes and Jhenn Angeles as they built a 28-22 lead and from there took control.
A fastbreak layup by Anies followed by a triple by Magdaluyo shattered a 40-all deadlock in the fourth period, giving the Tigresses a 45-40 cushion.
Bea Daez then fueled a fightback from the Lady Maroons as she scored 8 straight points in a run which knotted the count again at 48 apiece.
Bettina Penaflor broke the knot again, nailing two charities and a bucket to hand the España side a 52-48 lead.
Janeena Tatel’s basket inside off a pick and roll pulled UP within 50-52, before Magdaluyo hit a clutch 3 to provide UST the cushion at 55-50.
Magdaluyo finished with 12 points and dished out 5 assists to lead a balanced attack for the Tigresses. Anies and Maica Cortes added 10 points apiece.
Daez led the UP crew, which dropped to 0-2, with 20 points, 8 boards, and 3 assists. Tatel chipped in 11 points, 10 boards, and 6 blocks.
Foul trouble hounded UP all game long as they committed 16 more fouls than UST, 31-16 leading to 27 more free throw attempts for the latter, 40-13.
The Scores:
UST (58) – Magdaluyo 12, Anies 10, Cortes 10, Penaflor 9, Angeles 6, Felisarta 5, Brillante 2, Isanan 1, Larosa 1, Capilit 1, Portillo 0, Pernia 0.
UP (52) – Daez 20, Tatel 11, Oliva 8, Pesquera 5, Rodas 3, Lapid 2, Ordoveza 2, Esplana 1, Medina 0, Tan 0, Isip 0, Aliermo 0.
Quarters: 13-10, 17-22, 38-33, 58-52.
