Growling Tigresses’ streak halts in four as DLSU averts late UST run
By Anton Villegas
The UST Growling Tigresses opened the second round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament with a loss, breaking their four game winning-streak as the Lady Archers gave themselves an early cushion to survive the late 11–2 run by UST in the final period, 67–60, Saturday morning, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Joe Arciga did the damage for the Lady Archers as she created 14 points with six boards and five assists before fouling out in the dying sequences of the final quarter.
Meanwhile, Lee Sario was the only one besides Arciga to end up in double digits for DLSU as she shared her 11 points despite having to turn the ball over eight times in the ballgame.
Nikki Villasin had an underwhelming performance as she was not able to get her usual output and only gave five total points for the Tigresses.
Rocel Dionisio compensated for her teammates’ performance by putting up a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards in the ballgame but turned the ball over on seven occasions.
The opening salvo was a cold stretch for the Tigresses as they were unable to keep the distance within one possession as a 13–2 run was executed by DLSU after Tacky Tacatac’s decent five-straight points start.
The first quarter ended with a Bettina Binaohan basket to give La Salle a seven-point advantage to end the period, 22–15.
The Lady Archers took over the second period as they extended their lead to 11 points behind Arciga’s efficient 11 points, draining five out of her nine field goals in the half, 40–29.
Opening the third period, DLSU executed more intensity as they extended the lead to as big as 16 points following La Salle’s Jeehan Amed’s fascinating hookshot, 45–29.
The UST Growling Tigresses responded with an 8–0 run but DLSU just hung on when it mattered, maintaining a double-digit lead to end the 3rd quarter, 53–43.
The Lady Archers were stunned by UST’s pressure defense and presence in the paint as they executed an 11–2 run right after Erika Danganan’s injury to cut the lead to a single point, 59–58.
DLSU survived the blazing run of the Growling Tigresses as they made stops in the dying minutes of the quarter. Marga Jimenez iced the game with a perfect two out of two trip at the line, 67–60.
The UST Growling Tigresses will look to go back to their winning ways as they face the University of the East Lady Warriors, Wednesday, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
UST 60– Dionisio 17, Soriano 10, Bron 7, Ambos 6, Tacatac 5, Santos 5, Villasin 5, Danganan 3, Serrano 2, Pangilinan 0, Villapando 0.
DLSU 67– Arciga 14, Sario 11, Niantcho 9, Torres 6, Ahmed 6, De la Paz 6, Binaohan 5, Jimenez 3, Espinas 3, Dalisay 2, Camba 2.
