The DLSU Lady Archers were unable to withstand the UST Growling Tigresses’ offensive onslaught, suffering a 90-54 blowout loss that halted their three-game winning streak in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament Elimination Round yesterday, October 25, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite the Growling Tigresses’ clawing defense, Kyla Go kept La Salle afloat with 17 points, four rebounds, and one assist.
On the other side of the hardwood, Agatha Bron led the charge in UST’s balloon-lead win, unleashing 15 points, five rebounds, and one steal. Oma Onianwa also delivered a commendable performance, dropping 12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and one steal to dominate the game.
Lackluster showing
Despite coming off three sweet victories, the DLSU Lady Archers could not bring the same level of energy in their matchup against the UST Growling Tigresses. The team from Taft struggled early against the España-based squad’s tightened defense, only registering their first basket nearly two minutes into the opening frame with a swish triple from Paulina Anastacio to tie the game, 3-all. The Green-and-White tried to remain within striking distance as Kyla Sunga tallied a jump shot to trim the deficit to 9-6. However, the Lady Archers made several attempts at the basket but kept missing their target. By the end of a sluggish first quarter, eight of DLSU’s points came from the free throw line while UST surged ahead, 28-15, highlighting a wide disparity in offensive execution.
The Lady Archers continued to struggle with their scoring in the following frame as the Growling Tigresses made the most out of every possession with their hard hustle on the boards. Desperate to close the gap, DLSU fired shot after shot, but could not find the bottom of the net. Past the halfway mark of the second quarter, La Salle finally broke their silence with a triple from Luisa Dela Paz off a feed from Anastacio, 43-18. Still, UST kept a tight grip on the Lady Archers, even forcing a shot clock violation at the 2:48 mark to further limit their opponent’s chances at the ring. The last bit of action for DLSU in the first half was a jump shot from Lubrico that marked the end of a grueling performance from the Lady Archers, only having a single-digit scoring output before the halftime break, 53-24.
Grit meets growth
After a difficult first half, La Salle eventually found their footing in the third quarter, displaying improved ball movement and defensive awareness. Although UST maintained early control of the pace, the Taft-based squad tightened their coverage and converted key baskets through Tricia Mendoza and Go, who combined for a clean stretch of outside shooting. DLSU’s energy on both ends allowed them to put up 14 points in the frame, surpassing their previous quarter tally of nine and reducing the gap at 75-38 before heading into the final quarter.
In the last period, the Green-and-White continued to push offensively, converting multiple attempts from the arc and capitalizing on scattered scoring opportunities. Despite their persistence, several shots rimmed out as fouls disrupted their rhythm late in the game. Meanwhile, UST maintained their composure at the stripe, preventing any late rally from La Salle. The Growling Tigresses sustained their dominance throughout, closing the game with a commanding 94-50 routing over the Lasallians.
The DLSU Lady Archers’ next challenge will be against the UE Lady Warriors, as both squads aim to secure a bounce-back victory on Wednesday, October 29, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU 50 – Go 17, Lubrico 8, Mendoza 7, Anastacio 4, Villarin 3, Dela Paz 3, Dizon 2, Araza 2, Camba 2, Sunga 2, Catalan 0, Villapando 0, Dizon 0, Delos Reyes 0
UST 94 – Bron 15, Onianwa 12, Maglupay 11, Dajao 11, Santos 10, C. Danganan 8, Pastrana 7, Soriano 5, Sierba 4, McAlary 4, Pineda 3, K. Danganan 2, Ambos 0, Pescador 0, Serrano 0
Quarter Scores: 15-28, 24-53, 38-75, 50-94
