UP nips St. Benilde; Adamson blasts RTU in Filoil women’s caging

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines escaped St. Benilde  56-54  in a thrilling women’s basketball match Wednesday in the 2014 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan.

Tin Allierno nailed an undergoal stab with 21 ticks left to finally give the Lady Fighting Maroons the lead after trailing by four points in the last two minutes of play.

The Lady Blazers had ample time to send the game to overtime, but they turned the ball over in their final attempt, giving the Lady Maroons a chance to force a jump and get possesion.

The lanky Allierno finished with nine points and nine rebounds while Maan Wong and Bea Daez combined for 28 points to pace UP.

The Lady Maroons notched their first win despite committing 25 miscues, leaning on their height edge to outrebound the Lady Blazers, 47-31.

No side managed to put on a commanding lead but the Lady Blazers held a slim lead after a strong second quarter finish.

In the other women’s game, a strong second quarter carried Adamson to a 67-51 win over Rizal Technology University.

Jinkie Balasta led the Lady Falcons with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Josephine Ong added 12 points and five rebounds.

The Lady Thunder’s nine-point fourth quarter sealed their doom in their pre-season cup debut.

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