Growling Tigresses prevail over Lady Tams in UAAP basketball

MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) relied on Kent Pastrana and Brigette Santos in the fourth quarter to prevail over Far Eastern University (FEU), 66-57, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women's Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

Back-to-back baskets by Pastrana and Santos gave the Growling Tigresses a 56-43 lead, 7:56 remaining.

But the Lady Tamaraws rallied behind Shane Salvani, Joann Nagma, and Maxene Dela Torre to move within 53-56, 3:37 left.

UST fought back behind Pastrana and Santos to post a 63-53 lead, 1:18 to go. Pastrana finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks as UST finished the first round with a 6-1 record.

Tacky Tacatac chipped in nine points, while Karylle Sierba, Agatha Bron, and Santos added seven points each. CJ Maglupay chipped in five points and 13 rebounds, and made five steals.

"With regards with our record, I told the girls that this would be our last game in the first round so this should be a momentum-builder for the next round but unfortunately, they didn't play what we expected for them to play," UST head coach Haydee Ong said after the game.

"A win is a win. Our constant like Kent always performs so we need more players to show up and help Kent for our succeeding games."

FEU, which absorbed its fourth consecutive loss to stay at the bottom at 1-6, was paced by Shane Salvani with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists followed by MJ Manguiat with 11 points and three rebounds.

In the junior division, Prince Cariño scored 28 points in leading FEU-Diliman to a 90-83 win over UST.

The 6-foot-7 Cariño also had eight rebounds and three assists as the Baby Tams rolled to their fourth win to end the first round in second place at 6-1.

"Of course, first of all, I thank God. We're happy in the team because we worked hard to get this second place after the first round. Anyway, we still have a long way to go. We'll move on and work even harder," said the 15-year-old Cariño.

CP Miranda contributed 18 points, five assists, and six rebounds followed by Lakay Pasinos with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Mark Dulin with 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

In the other game, National University Nazareth School downed Ateneo de Manila University, 91-89. Both have similar 3-4 slates.

Chester Tulabut led the Bullpups with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Nick Peña chipped in 25 points, five rebounds, and two assists, followed by Dwyane Khobuntin with 10 points and seven rebounds, Yujin Peña with nine points and 12 rebounds, and David Sabareza with five points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals.

Jhon Canapi had 29 points, seven rebounds, and five steals, Andwele Cabañero added 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Dustin Bathan had 12 points, three rebounds, and seven assists for the Tiger Cubs, who are in third place at 4-3.

Zane Kallos finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists for the Blue Eagles. (PNA)