The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses are on the brink of Final Four qualification in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament as they prevailed 59-42 over the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
Shanda Anies led UST with 19 points today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Anies was followed by Sofia Felisarta and Jhenn Angeles who contributed 13 and 10 points respectively. Bettina Penaflor produced 10 rebounds for UST.
“The girls really played very well, very hard especially sa defense. Nung start nung first quarter medyo close yung game tapos when we got the momentum na until the fourth, na-control na namin yung game,” commented UST mentor Haydee Ong.
The Growling Tigresses started the game strong as they amassed a 28-19 lead at halftime. That cushion ballooned in the third quarter as an Ann Gandalla basket made it 32-21 early in the third quarter.
Ateneo struggled to cut the deficit as it only scored six points in the period. A Peñaflor shot inside the shaded lane then gave the Growling Tigresses a 36-25 separation from the Lady Eagles going into the fourth quarter.
Two charities from Felisarta allowed UST to have 46-35 advantage over Ateneo with just 5:00 left in the game. Akiko Tomita was able to cut the deficit to 39-46. However, UST were still in control of the game.
Larosa put the ball home to give UST 54-42 safety net from Ateneo at the 1:21 mark. In the end, the España school won 59-42 against its Katipunan-based counterpart.
UST got 45 rebounds compared to Ateneo’s 36. The Growling Tigresses also had 20 offensive boards, 15 second chance points and 36 interior points compared to the Lady Eagles’ 18, 10 and 24 respectively.
In addition to those, UST shot 37.29 percent from the field while Ateneo only mustered 30.19 percent.
“Yun yung sinabi namin sa mga poste (players): to crush the boards, don’t give Ateneo second chance points for us na makatakbo tayo and mga poste delivered so I’m happy. Everybody played very well today. It’s a team effort,” explained the veteran coach.
UST (5-7) will play Adamson University on November 9, 8:00 AM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. On the other hand, Ateneo (4-9) shall close out the season against De La Salle University on November 15, 8:00 AM in the FilOil Flying V Arena at San Juan City.
“I’m happy we won this kasi sabi ko nga every game counts now. Yung very crucial now is yung Adamson because we have to win that to ensure namin yung Final Four,” concluded Ong.
The Scores:
UST (59) – Anies 19, Felisarta 13, Angeles 10, Larosa 8, Peñaflor 4, Magdaluyo 3, Gandalla 2, Portillo, Rivera 0, Aujero 0, Sangalang 0.
ADMU (42) – Yam 13, Tomita 10, Guytingco 10, Deacon 4, Villamor 4, Uy De Ong 1, Cancio 0, Go 0, Newsome 0, Moslares 0.
Quarterscores: 19-14, 28-19, 36-25, 59-42.
