University of Santo Tomas shook off a slow start and found its rhythm in the third quarter to overpower Adamson University, 79-55, moving one step closer to a first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday evening.
After trailing by as many as 10 points in the opening period, the Growling Tigresses rallied behind sophomore guard Karylle Sierba and senior floor general Eka Soriano. The two sparked a 29-point third-quarter surge — while holding the Soaring Falcons to just 11 points — that ultimately decided the game.
That decisive stretch turned the tide, allowing UST to maintain control in the final quarter.
The Growling Tigresses rolled to their sixth straight victory in as many outings, putting them within one win of completing a perfect first round.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“After the first half, I told the girls sa dugout na we were really outhustled by Adamson. It was all effort by the Adamson team, so salute to them,” Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong said.
“Come the third quarter, yung mga bata, siguro nagising na sila, and we limited Adamson to 11 points in the third and fourth quarter. That spelled the difference in the first half and the second half.”
Down 31-33 at halftime, UST leaned on the trio of Rachel Ambos, Sierba, and Soriano to ignite a 19-6 third-quarter run — highlighted by a six-point burst from Sierba — that built an 11-point, 50-39 lead.
Gilas Pilipinas Women guard Kent Pastrana and Soriano then took turns extending the Growling Tigresses’ commanding performance in the third. They pushed the Lady Falcons into a 16-point hole, 60-44, heading into the final quarter, from which they struggled to recover.
UST carried their momentum into the fourth quarter. Four straight inside hits from Coi Danganan, Brigette Santos, Nigerian center Oma Onianwa, and Soriano gave the Growling Tigresses a 20-point, 72-52 cushion with less than two minutes remaining, sealing their clean 6-0 slate.
Sierba led UST with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding four rebounds. Soriano scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half and contributed six assists, five steals, and one rebound.
Onianwa also tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds and one block, while Pastrana and Santos added 10 points each.
Adamson’s woes were compounded by the late injury of Gilas Women 3×3 guard Cheska Apag. She finished with eight points, five assists, three steals, and two rebounds before tweaking her right foot on a layup at the 2:02 mark of the fourth quarter.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Nigerian center Victoria Adeshina led Adamson with 10 points, four rebounds, and one steal, while Brianna Bajo also had 10 points and four boards.
Fellow Gilas Women 3×3 guard Elaine Etang was limited to eight points on 3-of-15 shooting but contributed five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Both teams will close the first round on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Growling Tigresses will gun for their seventh straight win against the UP Fighting Maroons, while the Lady Falcons aim for redemption against the DLSU Lady Archers.
The Scores:
UST (79) – Sierba 16, Soriano 13, Onianwa 13, Pastrana 10, Santos 10, Ambos 6, Relliquette 6, C. Danganan 3, Maglupay 1, Bron 1, Pineda 0, Pescador 0, Serrano 0, McAlary 0.
AdU (55) – Adeshina 10, Bajo 10, Apag 8, Etang 8, Limbago 6, Agojo 5, A. Alaba 4, Meniano 4, E. Alaba 0, Cortez 0, Ornopia 0, Carcallas 0, Mazo 0, Padilla 0.
Quarterscores: 16-22, 31-33, 60-44, 79-55.
