UAAP: UST fends off Kacey Dela Rosa, Ateneo in women’s basketball

UST Tigresses’ Kent Pastrana in a UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball game against Ateneo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion University of Santo Tomas overcame reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa’s 20-point, 20-rebound game for Ateneo to remain unbeaten in two games,  77-54, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST banked on its balanced attack from Kent Pastrana, Eka Soriano, and Tacky Tacatac to survive Delas Rosa’s 22 points and 20 rebounds and take the share of the league lead with Adamson.

The Growling Tigresses held Dela Rosa scoreless in the fourth, where the Blue Eagles were limited to 2-of-17 shooting. 

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

Pastrana had 20 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, while Season 85 MVP Soriano delivered 12 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Tacatac fired four triples with 14 points and Ambis added 10 points and seven rebounds.

“It’s a total team effort; lahat talaga nagtulungan especially of course ‘yung Ateneo alam natin nandoon si Kacey so as much as possible we limit the output pero hindi pa rin. I think more effort pa from us on the second round against Ateneo,” said UST coach Haydee Ong.

As early as the first, UST drilled six triples for a 32-20 lead, which set the tone for its second win. Ateneo cut it down to five, 46-41, midway through the third before the troika of Pastrana, Soriano, and Tacatac restored the order.

Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Kacey Dela Rosa during a UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo dropped to a 1-1 record amid Dela Rosa’s monster double-double highlighted by an 8-of-11 shooting. Rookie Kai Oani and Junize Calago had eight points each.

Adamson unbeaten

Meanwhile, Adamson also remained unbeaten after earning its second straight win after beating La Salle, 65-54, behind Elaine Etang’s 15-point effort.

Etang,  who was part of Gilas Women’s 3×3 pool that competed in the FIBA 3×3 Nations League, led the Lady Falcons’ collective effort with 15 points, five rebounds, and five steals.

Kat Alogo delivered 12 points and five rebounds. Cris Padilla chipped in nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, as Cheska Apag and Jam Meniado added six points each for Adamson’s share of the lead with UST with identical 2-0 records.

READ: UAAP: NU kicks off redemption bid with win over La Salle

“I’ve been playing for a couple of seasons but we keep on losing. I motivated myself to do my best for us to win because I don’t want to be in a losing position,” said Alogo in Filipino.

From tied at 35 midway through the third, Etang restored the order for Adamson with a strong third-quarter finish, 48-37, before Alogo tallied the biggest lead, 52-37, to keep the Lady Archers at bay to start the fourth.

“I want to commend the players with the tight schedule, we only had two days to prepare and they bought into what we wanted to do for La Salle, the girls responded well,” said Adamson coach Ryan Monteclaro.

Lee Sario carried La Salle with 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists only for them to remain winless in two games after giving up 31 turnovers. Tricia Mendoza had 10 points and nine rebounds.