The UST Growling Tigresses secured their 11th win of the season with a 60-47 thrashing of Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Kent Pastrana was hailed player of the game, tallying 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

Tacky Tacatac and Brigette Santos also balled out for UST, combining for 23 points and four steals, respectively, in the winning effort.

“Napaka importante talaga ng box out for us, kasi konti lang yung bigs namin talaga na nag-iikutan, yun din talaga yung kulang namin,” Santos stated

“Importante para samin [yung] tulong din ng mga smalls sa [pag] box out, dapat tulong tulong kami, defense over all,” Santos added.

UST notched 18 steals against Adamson, but they also turned the ball over 33 times, making it difficult for them to pull away for good.

“Of course, we want to see the best nung mga players pa rin, so from first to fourth quarter di kami consistent on our play, but the silver today is yung defense namin, na 47 points lang yung ginawa nung Adamson,” UST Head Coach Haydee Ong said.

The Lady Falcons unleashed an 11-4 run in the opening quarter courtesy of Oluwakemi Adeshina, Elaine Etang, and Kim Limbago.

The Growling Tigresses lunged back through Angelika Soriano and Tacatac’s two consecutive threes, securing a two-point advantage, 13-11.

Adamson’s Cheska Apag failed to cut the lead to one after only hitting 1-of-2 free throws, 14-12.

Karylle Sierba and Tacatac gave UST an eight-point cushion after nailing back-to-back threes to end the first quarter, 20-12.

The second frame saw the Growling Tigresses’ defense hinder the San Marcelina-based squad from stealing the momentum from their hands.

Jam Meniano’s 2-of-2 free throws and Etang’s contested layup helped the Lady Falcons to simmer down the lead to two, 27-22. But Tacatac knocked in another three to secure an eight-point advantage for the Growling Tigresses at halftime, 30-22.

The offensive firepower of Adeshina and Etang helped Adamson stay behind UST by only four points, 33-29.

Santos took over for the Growling Tigresses, turning in eight points in the third salvo to widen their lead, followed by a 2-of-2 shooting from the line by Agatha Bron entering the final quarter, 47-34.

The Lady Falcons failed to find a way to wriggle out of UST’s defense in the fourth canto, making it hard for them to make a comeback.

“Personally, hindi ganon yung laro ko eh and yun nga, parang nawala ako sa focus din siguro kaya nagc-cause ng turnover.”

“Siguro nawala rin sa sistema, na parang merong part na nanggigil ako kaya nawala yung leadership ko sa court, kaya nagstart ulit ako sa depensa,” Pastrana shared his thoughts about her performance.

The Growling Tigresses unleashed a 9-2 rally behind the offensive repertoire of Tacatac, Santos, Soriano, and Pastrana to pad their lead to 17, 58-41.

The San Marcelino-based team tried to claw back with a 6-0 run, but time eventually ran out for them, giving UST the victory, 60-47.

Adeshina paced Adamson in their loss, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Angela Alaba and Etang combined for 15 points in the losing effort, respectively.

UST will look to end their last game in the second round against DLSU Lady Archers with a win on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the same venue.