THE UST Growling Tigresses outscored the UE Lady Warriors by 20 points in the fourth quarter for a 63-46 victory in their UAAP Season 86 opener at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, Oct. 1.
With UST down by three heading into the payoff period, 37-40, the Growling Tigresses unleashed an 8-4 blitz to take control, 48-44, before blasting away with a 15-2 run powered by Kent Pastrana’s corner trey that buried UE for good. UST scored 26 points in the quarter while holding UE to just six points.
Pastrana, who served her one-year residency during Season 85, paced UST with a game-high 20 points including six triples.
Despite the win, UST head coach Haydee Ong said she wanted the Tigresses to display consistency as they were outscored 12-5 in the third quarter.
“We cannot win this kind of game if we only play for one quarter,” Ong said postgame. “It’s good ngayon that ngayon ito nangyari sa amin and we have so many learnings after this game.”
The Growling Tigresses uncorked a 10-6 run to lead by three, 18-15, after the opening canto.
UST eked out a 7-4 run to end the first half capped by Rachelle Ambos’s four points and a Pastrana triple at the buzzer, 32-28.
UE’s big Kamba Kone completed her and-one play to ignite a 12-5 blitz that allowed the Red Warriors to overtake the Tigresses by the end of the third frame, 40-37.
UST recorded a total of 18 steals and outrebounded the Red Warriors 56-48.
The Tigresses secured the win despite shooting a poor 27.4 percent from the field.
Season 85 Mythical Five members Tacky Tacatac and Eka Soriano struggled in the game, combining for just 10 points. Tacatac only made two of her 16 attempts, while Soriano converted two of six attempts.
What made the difference were the 10 triples UST converted, which doubled UE’s five.
Reynalyn Ferrer scored 17 points with 11 rebounds in her return, while Ambos chipped in 10 points.
Lady Warriors Dianne Pedregosa and Althea Lorena scored nine and six points, respectively.
The Tigresses will next face the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m., at the Adamson University Gym.
