THE ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-6) drop their third straight game after falling to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses (9-2), 53-63, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Basketball Tournament. The game was held earlier today at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in the City of Manila.
Junize Calago was the lone Blue Eagle in double-digit scoring with a total of 10 points. Sandra Villacruz followed up with nine points, while Kacey dela Rosa tallied eight points accompanied by 16 rebounds.
Ateneo’s early defensive lapses gave the Growling Tigresses plenty of opportunities from beyond the arc. To open the game, the Blue Eagles fell victim to a 12-5 UST scoring run. Unable to produce consistent offensive outputs of their own, Ateneo ended the first quarter behind by seven points, 17-24.
The Blue Eagles’ defensive struggles continued in the second frame. Any attempt by the Blue and White at a comeback was quickly suppressed by a wide open three-point field goal from the Lady Tigresses. With momentum hardly going in favor of Ateneo, the first half ended with a ballooned UST lead, 30-42.
Upon resumption of play, both teams’ shooting woes continued—with the Blue Eagles and Growling Tigresses only scoring nine points each in the third quarter. Notably, rookie stalwart Eka Soriano scored seven of the nine UST points.
Down by 12 heading into the final canto, the Blue and White erupted for a 9-2 rally to cut down the Growling Tigresses’ lead to just three, 50-53. However, the España-based squad replied with a 10-1 run spearheaded by three-pointers from Tacky Tacatac and Joylyn Pangilinan to replenish the UST lead, 51-63. Ultimately, that scoring burst from the Growling Tigresses sealed Ateneo’s third consecutive loss, 53-63.
The Blue and White look to snap their losing skid as they come up against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (2-9) on Saturday, November 19 at 9:00 AM at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila City.
Box score:
Ateneo (53): Calago – 10, Villacruz – 9, Dela Rosa – 8, Joson – 7, Miranda – 7, Makanjuola – 5, Nieves – 4, Eufemiano – 3
UST (63): Soriano – 16, Pangilinan – 11, Tacatac – 10, Dionisio – 8, Ambos – 7, Santos – 5, Serrano – 2, Bron – 2, Villasin – 2
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-UST: 17-24, 30-42, 39-51, 53-63
