UST nips Ateneo in women's basketball

c/o UAAP

KENT Pastrana woke up in the nick of time  for University of Santo Tomas to defend home court against Ateneo de Manila University, 77-73, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, Saturday.

The Growling Tigresses bolstered their Final Four bid with their eighth win in nine games, while sending the Blue Eagles to their fifth defeat in nine games.

Pastrana, the UAAP Season 86 Athlete of the Year, struggled in the first three quarters but shrugged the off-game come fourth frame, going on a personal 7-2 run to raise the Growling Tigresses lead to 10 with 4:09 left, 69-59.

The Blue Eagles launched a comeback attempt late with Junize Calago, Kacey Dela Rosa, and Sarah Makanjuola at the forefront cutting their once 64-74 deficit to within three with 11.6 seconds left, 73-76.

However, Season 85 MVP Eka Soriano split his free throws on the other end to make it a two-possession game with 7.4 ticks to go before Dela Rosa missed her final attempt from deep.

“It’s a total team effort of course. Lahat nagtrabaho, alam niyo naman ‘yung waterloo namin is si Kacey and sa FSA nila so the girls really worked hard talaga para manalo today,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong.

Pastrana scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth period but it was a total struggle, shooting 5-of-18 from the field and 6-of-13 from the free throw line. She also tallied eight rebounds and four steals.

Brigette Santos also shone with 15 points and five assists while Tacky Tacatac shot 4-of-8 from deep to end up with 12 points.

Karylle Sierba and Agatha Bron also chipped in 11 points each in the victory that extended the Growling Tigresses’ winning run to five games.

UST will be up against Far Eastern University next on Oct. 27 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Ateneo continued to slide, losing its third straight game, still at fourth but is just half a game ahead of idle University of the Philippines at 3-5.

Dela Rosa notched her ninth straight double-double with 23 points and 18 rebounds for the Blue Eagles but also committed seven turnovers.

Calago also made 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists but had 10 turnovers to go with it while Makanjuola got 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Ateneo will aim to end its slump next Saturday against De La Salle University, also at MOA Arena.

The Scores:

UST 77 – Pastrana 16, Santos 15, Tacatac 12, Sierba 11, Bron 11, Maglupay 5, Soriano 3, Serrano 2, Ambos 2, Danganan 0, Amatong 0, Relliquette 0.

Ateneo 73 – Calago 23, Dela Rosa 23, Makanjuola 14, Batongbakal 6, Oani 5, Villacruz 2, Angala 0, Eufemanio 0, Cruza 0, Cancio 0.

Quarterscores: 21-26, 43-37, 62-57, 77-73