University of Santo Tomas stretched its winning run to four games in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament after walloping De La Salle University in wire-to-wire fashion, 93-67, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Growling Tigresses improved their record to 7-2 to tie the UP Fighting Maroons at second place. They have accrued an average winning margin of 16.75 in this streak.
Tacky Tacatac led all scorers with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
“I’m very happy na nakuha namin yung panalo today,” said Tacatac, a 24-year-old guard out of Tigbauan, Iloilo who is in her fourth year. “Nu’ng huli medyo nag-relax lang kaya kailangan pa namin ‘yun i-improve. Kailangan talaga start strong then finish strong every single game.”
UST, which also blasted La Salle in their first round encounter, 91-57, last October 8, showed no mercy right from the get-go.
Kent Pastrana, Tacatac, Santos, and Tantoy Ferrer pounded the Lady Archers to earn a 50-29 cushion by the halftime break.
The Growling Tigresses continued to compound the Lady Archers’ woes despite virtually putting the game to bed that early.
Tacatac, Pastrana, Nikki Villasin, Rocel Dionisio, Pastrana, Santos, and Rachelle Ambos worked together to bring UST’s lead to as much as 81-45 in the dying seconds of the third quarter.
Brigitte Santos followed Tacatac’s lead for UST with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Ambos had a very efficient game as she produced 11 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 10:29 on the floor.
Ferrer got 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while Pastrana tallied double-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. Apple Maglupay seized 13 rebounds to go along with her five points.
“I think this is what we wanted,” said long-time Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong. “The scoring output for UST is distributed with the whole team. Our defense today was not consistent as I’d want but the important thing is we got the W today.”
UST also went 11-of-39 from the three-point line while La Salle only went 5-of-30.
UST will go up against defending champion National University this Sunday at 9 a.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On the other hand, Tricia Mendoza led La Salle with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Luisa San Juan had 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals while Bernice Paraiso contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Lady Archers fell to a 3-6 record in sixth place.
They are two games behind fourth-placed team Ateneo de Manila University, which is playing University of the East as of publishing.
La Salle will next face Far Eastern University this Saturday at 11 a.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
