SHOWING NO signs of slowing down, the UST Growling Tigresses completed a first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigresses overpowered the UP Fighting Maroons, 75-61, to stay spotless at 7-0 — their strongest opening in 14 years.
Senior guard Brigette Santos took charge with 26 points and six steals, leading the Tigresses to their seventh win in a row.
“Of course, we feel happy and our confidence just keeps on building… But at the same time, we shouldn’t become complacent,” she told The Flame.
“Our first-round end wasn’t that nice… It’s like a wake-up call not to relax,” she added.
Right out of the gates, the Tigresses jumped to a dominant 21-7 advantage at the end of the opening frame, anchored by nine points from Brig Santos.
Despite UP finding its offense in the second salvo, UST maintained defensive pressure to take a 41-24 cushion.
In the third period, UST forward Agatha Bron hit a bucket to give the Tigresses their biggest lead of the game, 52-27.
Santos scored nine more markers in the quarter as the España squad remained in control, 58-36.
The Fighting Maroons found their touch in the final minutes, cutting their deficit to 12 behind a jumper from Louna Ozar, 65-53. But the Tigresses were just too much to handle.
Rachelle Ambos contributed 10 points for UST, while Kent Pastrana struggled offensively as she only scored two markers on 1-of-9 shooting.
Camille Nolasco paced the Maroons with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Alex Mendoza and Yel Vingno added 12 and 10 markers, respectively, in the loss.
UST will kick off its second-round campaign against the DLSU Lady Archers on Oct. 25 at the same venue. F – with reports from Lhiera Nicole Trinidad
