League-leading University of Sto. Tomas set up a rematch with defending champion National University-Nazareth School in the final after a dominant run on the last day of the UAAP Season 86 Girls’ Basketball Tournament preliminaries, Saturday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay’s Activity Center.
The Junior Tigresses romped Ateneo de Manila University, 21-9, before running over and eliminating De La Salle-Zobel, 21-9, to end the elimination round as the top seed with an unbeaten record of 4-0.
Karylle Sierba once again took charge for UST, unloading 12 points, including four two-pointers, in the win over the Blue Eagles. She then scored 11 points – built on four two-pointers – in the victory over the Junior Lady Archers.
“Sobrang thank you kay Lord na binigyan kami ng panalo, specially sa coaches namin saka sa mga ate namin na nagchi-cheer sa amin pa lagi. Yung tini-training lang namin, ina-apply lang namin so sana makuha namin yung championship,” said Sierba, an 18-year-old stalwart out of Mauban, Quezon.
“Yun nga, dapat ‘wag kami maging kampante dahil natalo namin sila (NUNS) kahapon. Ibibigay lang namin yung best namin para talunin po ulit sila, para makuha namin yung championship,” she added.
On the other hand, the Lady Bullpups, composed of Alicia Villanueva, Cielo Pagdulagan, BJ Villarin, and Nicole Pring handed Ateneo a 21-6 romp to cap the preliminary round as the second seed with a 3-1 slate.
The UST-NUNS gold medal preview will take place tomorrow, Sunday at 5:40 p.m. while third-seeded Adamson University (2-2) will face off against La Salle Zobel (1-3) in the bronze match later that day at 4:40 p.m.
Ateneo, on the other hand, ended the tournament last with a 0-5 record.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Meanwhile, defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman remained unscathed, dispatching University of the East and University of the Philippines Integrated School, respectively, to punch its ticket to the UAAP Boys’ 3×3 Basketball tournament.
The Baby Tamaraws flattened the Junior Warriors, 21-5, before fending off the Junior Fighting Maroons, 21-15, to remain at the top spot with an immaculate 5-0 standing.
“Masasabi ko lang is marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve and marami pa kaming kailangan matutunan and yun nga, ‘di kaming pwede magkumpyansa kasi kami yung defending champion,” said FEU-D big man Veejay Pre, who is already committed to the Tamaraws program for college.
“Siguro edge talaga yung pagiging go-hard namin and ‘di talaga kami nagpapatalo. At least ngayon malalaman namin kung ano pa yung pwede naming gawin bukas,” added Pre.
Jedric Daa went hot against UE, firing 10 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including two of three from deep, while Pre imposed his will inside against UPIS and scored seven points to lead the squad that also has Jiro Mecha and Dwyne Miranda.
The Tigers Cubs and the Baby Falcons also made it to the Final Four after improving their records to 5-1 and 4-2, respectively, after the penultimate day of the eliminations.
UST edged Ateneo de Manila University, 21-17, before escaping Adamson University, 17-15, while the Baby Falcons opened their day with a 20-14 victory over De La Salle-Zobel, who is currently in the fourth spot with a 3-3 record.
UE (2-4) and NUNS (2-4) are tied at the fifth and sixth spots and still have a shot at stealing the fourth seed from the Junior Archers while Ateneo and UPIS are already eliminated from contention with identical 1-5 cards.
