University of Santo Tomas secured the second Final Four ticket in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament with a dominant 70-54 victory over Far Eastern University on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With this win, the Growling Tigresses improved their record to 9-1, securing a semifinal spot alongside fellow Season 86 finalist NU Lady Bulldogs.
This victory also marks UST’s sixth consecutive Final Four appearance.
The Tigresses last missed the semifinals in Season 79 (2016), finishing the elimination round in fifth place with a 6-8 record during Haydee Ong’s first year as head coach.
“Lahat naman ng program, it’s not overnight. Talagang you have to make the puzzle right, yung mga right pieces of players, right recruitment, and the UST program is more on player development rather than recruitment program,” Ong said.
“We wanted na ‘pag may rinecruit kaming player, it’s not always the best players, but always the right one for our program,” added the former national team head coach.
The Growling Tigresses transformed a slim 23-16 first-quarter lead into a commanding 17-point cushion at halftime, 41-24, thanks to a dominant 25-11 showing in the second frame.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
From there, UST did not look back, continuing to surge in the third quarter and building an insurmountable 24-point lead, 60-36, heading into the final period.
They extended their lead to as many as 26 points after Rachel Ambos scored inside, giving the Tigresses a 64-38 advantage in the fourth quarter.
This victory sealed their sixth straight win and replicated their 66-57 first-round beatdown of the Lady Tamaraws on October 5.
“We played according to our game plan. Yung mga easy baskets for FEU, mga turnovers namin need i-address, but overall naman, we’re happy for the win,” Ong remarked.
“Yung mga dapat mag-step up, nag-step up, and we give some time naman doon sa bench ko for them to be exposed.”
Tacky Tacatac led UST in scoring with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, along with three steals, two rebounds, and two assists.
Kent Pastrana contributed 11 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Rachelle Ambos also had a strong performance, recording a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Karylle Sierba added nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
CJ Maglupay fell just short of a double-double, finishing with eight points and 11 rebounds, along with two assists and a block.
Looking ahead, UST’s six-game winning streak will be tested in a highly anticipated clash against their lone first-round tormentor, NU, on Wednesday, November 6, at the same Pasay venue.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Joann Nagma led the Lady Tamaraws in the loss with 11 points and four rebounds, while Yvette Villanueva contributed 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Shane Salvani had an all-around performance with eight points, 10 assists, six steals, and one block, while Victoria Pasilang chipped in eight points, four rebounds, and one assist.
FEU’s top scorer, MJ Manguiat, who averaged 13.38 points prior to this game, was limited to just three points on 0-of-10 shooting.
The Lady Tamaraws will look to return to the winning column in a battle against also-ran University of the East next Sunday, November 3, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
UST (70) – Tacatac 12, Pastrana 11, Ambos 10, Sierba 9, Maglupay 8, Santos 8, Pescador 5, N. Danganan 4, Soriano 3, Relliquette 0, Pineda 0, Serrano 0, Amatong 0, Bron 0.
FEU (54) – Nagma 11, Villanueva 10, Salvani 8, Pasilang 8, Lopez 7, Ong 3, Manguiat 3, Dela Torre 3, Paras 1.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 41-24, 60-36, 70-54
