THE UST Growling Tigresses inched closer to an elimination-round sweep after crushing FEU Lady Tamaraws and UE Lady Red Warriors in the UAAP Season 86 women’s 3×3 basketball tournament at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Saturday, May 4.
The Tigresses booked a semifinals ticket and solidified their hold of the top seed with 125 points built on 6-0 win-loss record, while FEU (98 points) and UE (69 points) remained the cellar-dwellers with similar 1-5 records.
The Lady Tamaraws were trailing UST for most of the game until Shane Salvani knocked down back-to-back triples for an 18-17 FEU lead with less than four minutes remaining.
The Tigresses reclaimed the lead after Reynalyn Ferrer scored two straight points,19-18, before Tacky Tacatac finally closed out the game with a game-winning triple from the wing at the 2:05 mark, 21-18.
In their next match, UST routed the Lady Warriors as the Tigresses mounted a 16-6 blitz capped by a Ferrer layup midway through the game.
Tacatac drilled a triple, 18-6, before Kent Pastrana completed an and-one play and bagged her freebies to seal the win for the Tigresses, 21-8.
Pastrana paced UST in both games, scoring 10 and eight points against FEU and UE, respectively.
In the girls’ division, the Junior Growling Tigresses defeated Ateneo, 21-10, before pulling off a 21-10 victory against oDLSU to end the elimination round with a perfect 4-0 card (82 points).
The Junior Growling Tigresses swept their way to the gold medal match against defending champion NSNU. They will battle tomorrow, May 5, 5:40 p.m. at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the UST Growling Tigresses will cap their elimination round facing defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs at the same date and venue.
