Defending champion University of Santo Tomas overcame a sluggish performance to eliminate De La Salle Zobel, 81-55, and set up another Finals clash against National University Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The Junior Growling Tigresses improved to a 4-1 record, officially setting the stage for the second consecutive UAAP Girls’ Basketball best-of-three championship series between UST and NUNS in the tournament, which is held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
With Riri Perez leading the way, UST — which saw head coach Arsenio Dysangco ejected at the 4:05 mark of the fourth quarter due to two technical fouls for dissent and unsportsmanlike behavior — also secured its third UAAP girls’ basketball Finals appearance, having not missed a championship series since the division was inaugurated in Season 82.
As the elimination round concluded, DLSZ, which dropped to 1-4, and winless Ateneo de Manila University were eliminated from Finals contention, unable to surpass the superior records of both NUNS and UST.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Magiging ready na lang din ako sa sarili ko, as you can see naman, nandiyan lang din ako para sa team and kay Coach Sen — yung samahan namin, walang iwanan,” Junior Growling Tigresses assistant coach Allana Lim said.
“A lot of things to work on pa, pero going against NU, they are prepared naman, mental lang talaga. Mga bata pa itong mga ito, kailangan lang patapangin yung mga players pa dahil skill-wise, nandiyan na,” she added.
After DLSZ jumped to an early five-point lead in the first quarter, UST quickly regained its composure in the second quarter. Consecutive baskets by Sabel Anacan, Lea Pinuela, and Sandra Abrantes helped the Junior Growling Tigresses build an 18-point, 50-32 halftime advantage.
That second-quarter performance proved pivotal as UST survived an error-filled third quarter, leaning on back-to-back layups by Perez to maintain a 19-point, 62-43 lead heading into the final period.
The Junior Lady Archers trimmed the lead to as low as 65-52 with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter, but Perez, Abrantes, Anacan, and Kat Insoy combined efforts to keep UST ahead 77-55 with less than two minutes remaining.
Perez shone for UST with 17 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and four blocks, while Indonesian center Koukou Talla added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Pinuela and Insoy contributed 10 points each, while Anacan and Janice Oczon combined for 18 points in the Junior Growling Tigresses’ fourth win in five games.
UST will aim for revenge for their lone loss of Season 88 when they face NUNS to close out the elimination round on Sunday, March 8, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Fia Martinez paced DLSZ with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Steff Contreras added nine points, two assists, one rebound, and one steal.
Ima Navarro was limited to eight points on 1-of-12 shooting but contributed three rebounds and three assists, while Apyang Dulay added eight points, 11 rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
The Junior Lady Archers aim to end Season 88 on a high note against the Blue Eagles next Sunday, March 1, at the same Quezon City venue.
The Scores:
UST (81) – Perez 17, Talla 13, Pinuela 10, Insoy 10, Anacan 9, Oczon 9, Abrantes 6, Mateo 3, Hew 2, Arciaga 2, Townes 0, Calig-onan 0, Capinpin 0.
DLSZ (55) – Martinez 10, Contreras 9, Navarro 8, Dulay 8, Gerona 6, Gales 6, Ogario 5, Padigos 2, Winar 2.
Quarterscores: 22-15, 50-32, 62-43, 81-55.
