Kent Pastrana and Brigette Santos stepped up in the clutch for University of Santo Tomas, holding off Far Eastern University with a 66-57 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Growling Tigresses finished the first round with a 6-1 record, securing second place just behind the 6-0 National University Lady Bulldogs, who were facing the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles as of publishing time.
UST established a 13-point lead at 56-43 with 7:56 left in the fourth quarter, thanks to eight unanswered points from Santos and Pastrana.
However, the Lady Tamaraws responded with a 10-0 run, led by Shane Salvani, Joann Nagma, and Maxene Dela Torre. The three cut the deficit to just three points at 56-53 with 3:37 remaining.
UST managed one last surge, as Pastrana and Santos combined for seven consecutive points, extending the lead to 63-53 and effectively putting the game away with 1:18 left on the clock.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite the victory, Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong expressed her disappointment with the Tigresses’ performance.
“With regards to our record, I told the girls that this would be our last game of the first round, so it should be a momentum-builder for the next round. Unfortunately, they didn’t play as we expected,” Ong said.
“A win is a win. Kent always performs, but we need more players to step up and help him in our upcoming games.”
Pastrana finished the game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, although she committed seven turnovers.
Tacky Tacatac added nine points, while Santos contributed seven, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
Power forward CJ Maglupay made her presence felt with five points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Shane Salvani, returning from a one-game suspension, led FEU with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists.
However, she struggled with eight turnovers and shot a dismal 6-of-26 from the field.
MJ Manguiat added 11 points in the defeat, marking the Lady Tamaraws’ fourth consecutive loss, leaving them at the bottom of the standings with a 1-6 record.
The Scores:
UST 66 – Pastrana 22, Tacatac 9, Santos 7, Sierba 7, Bron 7, Maglupay 5, Soriano 4, Reliquette 3, Danganan 2, Pescador 0, Dionisio 0.
FEU 57 – Salvani 16, Manguiat 11, Nagma 8, Ong 6, Dela Torre 6, Villanueva 4, Paras 4, Libor 2, Lopez 0, Pasilang 0.
Quarterscores: 20-9, 37-24, 48-43, 66-57.
