DEFENDING champions De La Salle University Green Archers and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses continued their dominant performances in their respective divisions in the UAAP Season 86 Collegiate 3×3 Basketball Tournament on Friday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
The Green Archers fended off the UST Growling Tigers, 20-16, before claiming a W-0 victory over the defaulted UP Fighting Maroons, pushing them to a 4-0 record in the four-day meet.
Meanwhile, the Growling Tigresses dominated the Adamson Lady Falcons, 21-10, and the DLSU Lady Archers, 20-14.
EJ Abadam, who replaced Joshua David in the lineup, delivered the go-ahead basket against UST, knocking down a deuce to gain a 17-15 lead. Reigning MVP CJ Austria then nailed three straight points to seal the win.
“Okay lang naman kahit nagpalit kami kasi may chemistry na naman kami,” said Austria, who tallied 11 points on 7-of-9 shooting against UST.
Jonnel Policarpio contributed five points and six rebounds, while Aaron Buensalida and Abadam chipped in two points apiece.
(C) Janette Calub/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Prior to Day 2, UP withdrew from the tournament, citing injuries to its three-man lineup. All scheduled opponents of the Fighting Maroons still had to step onto the court during their scheduled matches to avoid forfeit.
Kent Pastrana, on the other hand, scored 10 points in UST’s 20-14 win against her former school La Salle.
“So far, medyo may kulang pa kami at lapses sa defense. Kailangan pa rin namin i-work on yun sa remaining games namin,” said Pastrana, who tallied four points and six rebounds against Adamson, as they still have FEU, UE, and NU as their last three games.
Tantoy Ferrer finished with eight points against Adamson while producing five against La Salle.
“For me, walang pressure kasi basketball pa rin ‘to. Alam ko naman yung gagawin ko at nagtitiwala lang ako sa teammates ko,” added Pastrana, who replaced reigning MVP Eka Soriano in this year’s lineup.
Also gaining traction on the men’s side were NU and UE.
The Bulldogs, composed of Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Joe Gulapa, went 2-0 for the day, beating Adamson (21-12) and Ateneo (19-11) to gain solo second place with a 3-1 slate — tied with Adamson but ahead by six points.
Meanwhile, UE’s Wello Lingolingo, Ethan Galang, Jack Cruz-Dumont, and Kean Spandonis blasted Ateneo, 21-14, before narrowly defeating UST, 21-17, to secure fourth place — tied with FEU but ahead by five points.
UST sits at sixth with a 1-3 slate while Ateneo remained winless in four outings.
The Lady Bulldogs, on the other hand, bounced back from their loss to the Lady Archers on Day 1, routing Ateneo (18-7) and FEU (18-12).
NU replaced the injured Angel Surada with Aloha Betanio.
The duo of Ann Pingol and Tin Cayabyab continued to lead NU, with Pingol totaling 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Cayabyab finished the day with 12 points and 14 rebounds in their twin wins.
La Salle suffered its first loss in the 2:40 p.m. game, bowing to FEU 18-16.
FEU, UP, UE, and Ateneo all have one win each.
