UST rookie Karylle Sierba in UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament.–UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas started its title defense in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament with a dominant 86-44 victory over University of the East Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In her collegiate debut, Karylle Sierba, a product of the UST High School program, led the Growling Tigresses with 18 points on an efficient 61.5-percent shooting from the field, while also contributing four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
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UAAP Season 86 Athlete of the Year Kent Pastrana added 15 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, while Rachelle Ambos came close to a triple-double, tallying 13 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals.
“Una po, binigay ko lang yung best ko sa loob ng court,” said Ambos, a third-year forward. “Nag-stick lang ako sa kung ano sinasabi ni coach [Haydee Ong]. Sinabi niya sa amin dati pa na wala na si ate Tantoy (Ferrer) kaya kailangan namin mag step-up as a big kasi kailangan kami sa game.
READ: Basking in spotlight, Ong and Tigresses send women’s hoops a little shine
“Yun lang po. Kung ano sasabihin lang, yun lang bigay lang ng bigay ng best,” she added.
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After a slow start in the first quarter, the defending champions shifted to higher gear in the second period, zooming past the Lady Warriors off baskets by Eka Soriano, Ambos and Kent Pastrana to lead by 17, 41-24, in the half.
UST then clinched its biggest separation from UE, 86-40, with 2:15 remaining.
Despite the impressive victory, Ong pointed out that her team has to take better care of the ball in its next games.
“I think we have to correct our turnovers. Madami pa rin,” Ong said. “Baka may mga first-game jitters. We started very excited. It’s all unforced turnovers. Hopefully sa next games, medyo maremedyohan namin yung mga turnovers namin.”
READ: How Haydee Ong transformed UST Tigresses into becoming NU’s downfall
UST made sure to make UE pay for its 33 errors by scoring 30 turnover points.
The Growling Tigresses also seized 57 rebounds and produced 50 points from the bench while the Lady Warriors could only come up with 40 and 19 respectively.
The Tigresses will look to build on this win when they take on the Ateneo Blue Eagles this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Big Dome.
Rachel Lacayanga was the lone bright spot for UE with 11 points and seven rebounds as Malienne center Kamba Kone was held down to just eight points, four rebounds, and an assist.
On a 38-game losing streak, the Lady Warriors will try to finally get back to winning ways this Saturday against the UP Fighting Maroons at 1:30 p.m. at the same venue.
READ: UST ends title drought, NU dynasty in UAAP women’s basketball
Meanwhile, Adamson University capitalized on the suspension of Far Eastern University ace Josee Kaputu, taking a 76-63 victory to spoil Raiza Palmera-Dy’s coaching debut.
Cheska Apag, Elaine Etang, and Kat Agojo joined hands to turn a small three-point Lady Falcons lead in the third to 14, 53-39, thanks to a 13-2 blast.
However, MJ Manguiat went on a personal 8-1 run bridging through the final frame to cut the Lady Tamaraws’ deficit to just seven with 9:39 remaining, 47-54.
Adamson easily doused the fire created by Manguiat though as Agojo, Apag, Victoria Adeshina, and Angeline Alaba fired a 12-2 response to restore order and build an insurmountable 17-point margin with 5:58 to go, 66-49.
“For us talaga first game is always the hardest game you’ll ever play in any tournament. There are some jitters, and excitement. Winning our first game, yun nga yung nakalagay sa dugout namin we want to make a statement on our first game,” said second-year Lady Falcons head coach Ryan Monteclaro.
Kaputu, the Congolese center and MVP runner-up last season, did not play as she served her suspension. Her suspension stemmed from the final game of last season, when she committed an unsportsmanlike foul. She will be available next game.
Apag shone for the Lady Falcons with an all-around display of 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals while being a game-high plus-22 in her 24 minutes.
Nigerian center Victoria Adeshina also feasted inside with Kaputu not around, grabbing 16 rebounds while scoring 10 points.
Elaine Etang also had a complete game of nine points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Adamson looks to make it two wins in a row on Wednesday when it meets De La Salle University at 11:30 a.m. at the same venue.
Joann Nagma, now in her junior year, paced the Lady Tamaraws with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and five steals.
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Manguiat contributed 13 points, while Shane Salvani added 12 in the loss as FEU seeks to enter the win column on Saturday against National University, also at the Big Dome.