Tigresses find form, rout Lady Warriors to stay firmly at second
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses took to the court Saturday afternoon with something to prove.
They found exactly that, showcasing a spirited, composed performance that powered them to an 84-62 victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win strengthened UST’s hold on second place, pushing their record to 10-2 and giving them a critical 1.5-game lead over the Adamson Lady Falcons.
“We can’t be overconfident. We also need to have mental toughness,” said UST assistant coach Ged Austria. “Knowing that we are one of the teams on top, there is that tendency to relax. So we have to keep that mindset of taking things one day at a time and sticking to the process.”
Tied at 19, UST guard Kent Pastrana took charge, scoring 11 points in a momentum-shifting run that sent the Growling Tigresses into halftime with a comfortable 35-24 advantage. Pastrana’s confidence and energy on the court lifted her teammates and sparked a rally that would define the rest of the game.
That energy carried into the third quarter, as UST continued to stretch the lead. Rookie Karylle Sierba took the reins in the final frame, scoring 13 of her 16 points in a display that left UE scrambling to keep up. Sierba’s contributions were pivotal as UST extended their lead to a dominant 22 points, effectively putting the game out of reach.
UST’s success came down to a trio of standout performances, each player contributing their own unique strengths. Tacky Tacatac led the charge, scoring 25 points—20 of which came in the second half.
Pastrana, meanwhile, finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Sierba wound up with 16 points on efficient 6-of-10 shooting and demonstrating remarkable poise for a freshman.
Despite the lopsided score, Austria remained critical of UST’s performance, pointing to inconsistencies early in the game. “We did not play the way we wanted to play in the first three quarters,” he admitted. “It’s clear that we need to make a lot of corrections [to our game].”
The Lady Warriors, who have endured a difficult season and an eight-game losing streak, now stand at 1-11, officially out of Final Four contention.
Still, individual efforts shone through the challenging team performance. Center Kamba Kone, a towering presence from Mali, scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, shooting a remarkable 76.9 percent from the field. Guard Rachel Lacayanga also contributed 22 points, with five rebounds and four steals.
With only a few games left in the regular season, UST’s next matchup is critical. The Growling Tigresses will face the Adamson Lady Falcons next Saturday in a game that could secure UST the second seed.
