THE UST Tigresses missed crucial free throws down the stretch and bowed to the defending champion De La Salle University, 50-56, in their first game in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament last July 13.
UST’s Grace Brillantes missed four straight freethrows late in the fourth quarter with her squad trailing by 11 point.
“We still had our opening jitters. We had flaws on both ends but the bottom line is, our free throws cost us the game, especially the free throws in the last minute,” Tigresses head coach Chris Cantonjos said in Filipino.
The Lady Archers erected an 11-point lead in the fourth frame, 52-41, after Trisha Piatos erupted for eight straight points, including two three-pointers.
UST’s trio of Lore Rivera, Kim Reyes and Maica Cortes sparked a 9-2 run that trimmed the margin to four, 50-54.
Earlier in the third quarter, La Salle started taking control of the game after limiting UST to just four field goals. Piatos then exploded for 10 points in the period to post the Lady Archers’ first double-digit lead, 39-29.
Reyes led the Tigresses with 14 points while Rivera chipped in with 11 markers. Piatos paced La Salle with a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds.
“We will focus first on our free throws and some adjustments. We did not achieve the things that we wanted to execute so we will work on it as well,” Cantonjos said. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
Box Scores:
UST 50 – Reyes 14, Rivera 11, Felisarte 10, Cortes 8, Magdaluyo 4, Penaflor 0, Angeles 0, Mandilag 0, Isanan 0, Brillantes 0
La Salle 56 – Piatos 23, Garcia 9, Vrgara 8, Claro 6, Mellendres 4, Ong 2, Roxas 2, Concuera 2, Castillo 0
Quarter Scores: 12-14, 24-23, 33-41, 50-56
