IT COULD have been a twin kill for the UST Tigresses.
The España-based cagebelles nearly delivered a peat of their title-clinching Season 69 campaign but fell short of that as the resurgent Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws gored them, 43-56, in the Home and Away Invitational League (HAIL) Finals last March 27 at the FEU Gym.
Throughout the game, coach Peque Tan’s wards struggled with their offense, particularly their perimeter shots, against FEU’s rugged defensive plays.
“They (the Tigresses) were not in their winning form after coming from a tiresome Hong Kong trip, (a reward) for winning the UAAP title,” Tan told the Varsitarian.
Despite shifting to a half-court trapping defense in the third period, the Tigresses still failed to stop FEU’s hot fieldgoal shooting sparked by a 7-0 blast for a 21-35 lead.
The Tigresses tried to put up a last stand to cut the deficit at 29-43 early in the fourth with baskets from Sharon Briones, Nikki Leonardo and Joanne Gregorio. But the Lady Tamaraws were quick to get back and piled up five straight points to put the UAAP champions at bay, 35-48, with just 5:58 left.
Trailing the Lady Tamaraws by only three points at the end of the first quarter, 8-11, the Tigresses however turned sluggish, allowing the Season 69 bridesmaids to unleash an 11-0 run that set the tone of the match.
Nobody from the Tigresses managed to hit double figures, as Remia Buenacosa and JR Gregorio could only do so much with nine points apiece to lead all UST scorers.
Earlier, the Tigresses subdued De La Salle Lady Archers, 83-77, at the opponents’ home court last March 24.
With 12.5 seconds remaining, Buenacosa nailed a jumper and split her charities to seal the win for UST.
The 2006 Mythical Team member also poured nine of her game-high 20 points, including a lay-up in the final 2:39 minutes to give UST an eight-point cushion at 76-68.
The UAAP champions staged an onslaught midway in the third canto with a stinging defense coupled with good ball movement to keep La Salle scoreless for 1:39 minutes.
“We were able to snag the win because we refused to relax and be too confident,” Leonardo said. “We failed to have that attitude in our game against FEU and all we have to do is learn from that mistake.” Ana Mae G. Roa
