Growling Tigresses prevail over Lady Archers

by Gillian Patricia Geronimo

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses clawed the De La Salle University Lady Archers, 68–56, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday.

UST started weak, ending the first quarter five points short from DLSU, 11,16, but Kla Aujero grabbed UST’s first lead by the second canto, 26–24.

Despite the Tigresses’ making sure they stayed ahead for the rest of the game, UST head coach Haydee Ong remained disappointed as UST played weak during the last quarter.

“Defensive coach ako so naiinis ako pagka may lapses sa defense – may mga easy baskets [ang] La Salle. Actually, we lost ‘yung fourth quarter; they scored more than us. That should be a lesson for us na hindi pwede mangyari ‘yan,” Ong said.

“Dapat we should finish strong all the time even if we have a big lead we should not relax,” she added.

The Lady Archers scored 19 points in the last quarter against UST’s 14.

Anjel Anies and Jhenn Angeles paced UST with 15 and 14 points respectively while Kikay Gandalla added 10 markers.

DLSU’s Joehanna Arciga tallied a double-double with game-high 20 points and 16 rebounds.

UST improved to an 8–1 win-loss card and. will next face the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“We want to beat UE again para nakapako na kami sa number two slot,” she stated.

Box Scores

UST 68 – Anies 15, Angeles 14, Gandalla 10, Larosa 8, Peñaflor 8, Aujero 6, Capilit 5, Rivera 1, Villar 1, Portillo 0, Isanan 0, Jerez 0

DLSU 56 – Arciga 20, Paraiso 11, Torres 7, Dagdagan 6, Castillo 5, Nuñez 5, Vegara 2, Jimenez 0, Del Campo 0, Figueroa 0

Quarter Scores: 11–16, 30–26, 54–37, 68–56