REIGNING CHAMPIONS UST Junior Growling Tigresses kickstarted their UAAP Season 88 girls’ basketball campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling the De La Salle Zobel Junior Lady Archers, 90-59, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Playtime FilOil Centre.
Sixteen-year-old standout Riri Perez flirted with a triple-double, tallying 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to pace the España squad.
UST seized an early five-point advantage before encountering resistance from DLSZ, with the opening frame ending at 17-all.
The Junior Tigresses then asserted control in the second salvo, surging to a 13-point lead. DLSZ team captain Naima Navarro’s personal 6–0 run trimmed the deficit, but UST remained in control, 45–32.
Tigress Sofia Petalcorin ignited the third period with a 6–0 spurt that ballooned UST’s lead to 26 points. DLSZ was held scoreless in the first four minutes before they managed an eight-point run in the final minutes of the frame, 67-46.
By the final quarter, UST had built a game-high 31-point lead and maintained firm control throughout the remainder of the match.
Koukou Talla backed up the Junior Tigresses with 15 points, while Lea Pinuela added 10.
For the Junior Lady Archers, Navarro led her team with 15 markers, alongside Mary Gales’ 13.
UST will aim to notch its second win when it takes on the Ateneo Blue Eagles at their home turf, on Sunday, Jan. 18. F – Jean Chloe Apilat
