AFTER opening with a two-game winning streak, the UST Tigresses suffered their first loss in the Fr. Martin’s Cup at the hands of University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) finalist Adamson Lady Falcons, 70-85, at the FEU Gym last May 7.
The Tigresses never found their game, falling behind by as many as 21 points midway in the fourth canto as they succumbed to the fullcourt pressure applied by the Lady Falcons throughout the game.
Adamson sniper Dorothy Torres poured in 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, capping a fourth quarter surge with back-to-back three pointers, giving her team its biggest lead, 81-60, with 4:46 left in the game. As the Tigresses’ defense shackled Adamson’s burly forward Minerva Narciza, limiting her to a measly six points in the second half, Torres made UST pay with her deadly perimeter shooting.
UST was silenced by the Lady Falcons’ fullcourt trap in a four-minute span in the third quarter. The Adamson lady dribblers scored six straight points off six consecutive turnovers by the Tigresses in that stretch, padding a 12-point cushion to 18, 59-41. Tigress Melissa Aninzo finally broke the silence with an uncontested layup two minutes left in the third canto.
Adamson led at the break, 42-30, behind Narciza’s 15 points. Narciza also finished the game with 21 markers.
Forward Juvy Salazar and center Ma. Theresa Palenzuela topscored for UST with 19 points each.
The loss relegated UST to solo second place behind Adamson and UP who both have immaculate 2-0 win-loss records in the six-team field.
UST will next play UP and FEU (0-2) to wind up the single round robin tournament.
