UST dispatches La Salle to start postseason preparations

c/o UAAP

JHS Games on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

10 a.m. - ADU vs UP

12 p.m. - Ateneo vs NUNS

2 p.m. - DLSZ vs UST

4 p.m. - UE vs FEU-D

DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas delivered a first quarter masterpiece, setting the tone for its 70-52 triumph over De La Salle University heading into the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball stepladder semifinals on a high at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, Saturday.

The Growling Tigresses held the Lady Archers to just three points in the opening period on a measly 1-of-14 shooting from the field while scoring 20 points themselves.

“We wanted to emphasize on our team defense and I’m happy na ‘yung mga ginawa namin for the past week nakuha ng mga bata. They gave La Salle a hard time in the first quarter,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the second-seeded Growling Tigresses, who finished at 12-2, will now wait for the winner between the Adamson Lady Falcons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles on the first phase of the stepladder.

The stepladder survivor will play National University, which jumped straight to the Finals after completing a 14-game sweep of the eliminations.

Tacky Tacatac led UST’s onslaught with 14 points, all scored in the first half, while Kent Pastrana did everything with 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

“Nagbase talaga kami sa training namin. Coming into the Final Four, umpisa na kung ano yung trabaho namin kaya nagpukpok kami sa training, nagtulungan kami kung anong dapat itama sa defense kasi doon kami nagkukulang,” said Pastrana.

Brigette Santos and Koi Danganan also added nine points apiece in the win that saw the Growling Tigresses dominate the paint, 30-14, and bench points, 33-10.

Luisa San Juan led all scorers with 15 points as La Salle ended its campaign with a 4-10 record and sixth place, with Bettina Binaohan and Bernice Paraiso playing their final game in a Lady Archers jersey.

The Scores:

UST 70 - Tacatac 14, Pastrana 10, Santos 9, Danganan 9, Sierba 7, Maglupay 6, Reliquette 5, Ambos 2, Amatong 2, Bron 2, Soriano 0, Pineda 0, Serrano 0, Pescador 0.

DLSU 52 - San Juan 15, Sario 9, Binaohan 8, Sunga 7, Dela Paz 6, Mendoza 3, Santos 2, Dalisay 1, Paraiso 1, Bacierto 0, Camba 0.

Quarterscores: 20-3, 39-23, 57-38, 70-52.