AN UNDERMANNED Tigresses squad barged into the semifinals in the Filoil Flying V Pre-season Cup after defeating the College of Saint Benilde (CSB), 66-60, at The Arena in San Juan last May 11.
Marian Mejia stepped up in the absence of center Maica Cortes, leading the Tigresses with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Janine Ong pitched in 13 markers. Jen Mayol paced the Lady Blazers with 19 points and 11 boards.
Mejia sank a buzzer beater in the first quarter to give UST a five point lead, 20-15.
The España-based cagebelles rallied with back-to-back three-pointers from Mejia and Ong, mounting an 11-point lead at the end of the second frame, 36-25.
But the Lady Blazers took advantage of the Tigresses’ complacency in the third quarter, igniting a 15-0 run. Yam Dela Torres’ floater in the waning seconds of the quarter put the Lady Blazers ahead, 46-45.
Tigress guard Lore Rivera sparked a 13-2 run in the last frame to help erect a 10-point lead, 58-48, with less than five minutes left to play.
CSB fought back and managed to cut the lead to four, 59-55. UST’s Jhenn Angeles and Angellyn Cabaylo responded with crucial baskets to help seal the victory for the Tigresses.
Coach Chris Cantonjos pointed out their defensive lapses in the third frame that led to the Lady Blazers’ 15-0 run.
“They (Tigresses) were complacent with the lead and reverted back to the old style, drifting away from what we practiced, and that gave the [Lady Blazers] an opportunity to score and make a run,” he said.
“We regrouped, I reminded them not to be complacent and I saw their hunger to win so that’s why we got the victory,” he said.
UST improved to a 3-1 win-loss card, placing second in Group A behind UAAP women’s Basketball defending champion Far Eastern University.
