THE UST Junior Growling Tigresses ended the first round of eliminations as the lone undefeated team, outlasting the NUNS Lady Bullpups, 75-69, in the UAAP Season 87 girls’ basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, Feb. 6.
With the win, the Junior Golden Tigresses improved to 3-0, while NU dropped to 2-1.
Katrina Insoy led UST with 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including a dagger 3 late in the fourth that ended NUNS’ late run.
Leading 68-59, the Junior Golden Tigresses saw their lead shrink to five with under a minute left following an 8-4 NUNS run, 72-67.
UST then turned to Insoy, who drained a triple with 24 seconds left to seal the win.
“I thought we played a decent game,” said UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco. “But we are still a work in progress. We still have to go back and try to correct some things.”
UST had a 29-10 advantage in points off turnovers despite committing seven more miscues than NUNS.
Barby Dajao tallied 19 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and eight steals for the Junior Growling Tigresses.
“I thought it was an incredibly great game lalo na for the high school ranks. ‘Yong effort ng both teams it’s amazing that’s why we’re very happy na meron na ang girls ng ganitong klaseng platform para makalaro,” Dysangco said.
Aubrey Lapasaran put up 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals to carry the Lady Bullpups, while Zaydhen Rosario added 15 points, 17 rebounds, and eight steals.
The UAAP has yet to announce the schedule for the second round.
