UST, UP win first assignments in Round 2

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Aug 16th 2013

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of the Philippines (UP) remained tightly bunched in the middle, disposing of separate opponents Thursday to jumpstart the second round of the 76th UAAP women’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigresses clobbered University of the East (UE), 72-51, while the Lady Maroons pounced on winless Ateneo de Manila University, 71-63, to stay glued at fourth place with identical 4-4 records.

Lore Rivera and Maica Ortiz allied 14 points each and combined for 23 of UST’s 52 rebounds, including 27 off the offensive glass, as UST dominated the Lady Warriors from start to finish.

Hardly opposed from the get-go, the Tigresses unleashed a 10-0 run in the first quarter to zoom ahead, 17-7. Rivera, Ortiz, and Marian Mejia stepped on the gas further, presiding over a crippling 14-1 attack to give UST an insurmountable 35-13 lead at the break.

With UE’s defense in total chaos, the Tigers repeatedly scored on easy baskets to grab a huge 65-31 lead midway through the final period that virtually sealed the contest for the Espana-based squad.

Dianne Ventura top-scored for UE with 24 points.

Early in the day, the Lady Maroons survived the comebacking Lady Eagles behind the double-double performances of Bea Daez and Patricia Tatel.

Daez led UP with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Tatel added 14 and 15, respectively.  Katrinne Topacio and Sheerose Luna chipped in 11 apiece for the Lady Maroons.

The Lady Maroons established themselves from the opening whistle, building a 35-18 lead. But the Lady Eagles slowly recovered and unleashed a huge 19-6 onslaught in between the second and third frames to move within 36-43.

UP’s guns suddenly ran out of ammunition but the Lady Maroons still managed to hold Ateneo at bay, 51-47, entering the final period.

However, Ateneo kept on coming and finally tied the game at 57-all with 4:43 left to play.  But Tatel and Daez were not yet done, knocking in a triple and a jumper to spark a 10-3 counter-attack to regain the lead, 67-60, for good.

Danica Jose tallied 24 markers to lead Ateneo, which remained winless in eight outings.

The scores:

1st game

UP 71 – Daez 20, Tatel 14, Topacio 11, Luna 11, Wong 5, Aurellado 4, Isip 3, Furruganan 3, Salapong 0, Pioquinto 0, Aliermo 0.

ADMU 63 – Jose 24, Bo-ot 13, Nunez 10, Deacon 6, Uy de Ong 4, Posadas 4, Buendia 2, Veloso 0, Tantoco 0, Nitoreda 0, Javier 0, Belarmino 0.

Quarter scores: 27-10, 43-32, 51-47, 71-63.

2nd game

UST 72 – Rivera 14, Cortez 15, Andrade 8, Felisarta 7, Reyes 6, Mejia 5, Ong 4, Magdaluyo 3, Anies 3, Salvador 2, Penaflor 2, Brillante 2, Angeles 2, Mandilag 0, Jerez 0, Isanan 0.

UE 51 – Ventura 24, Llosala 9, Sto. Domingo 7, Doqueza 7,  Ramos 2, Domino 2, Valdez 0, Tacula 0, Nama 0, Gayacao 0, Bale 0, Ano-os 0, Adorador 0.

Quarter scores: 17-9, 35-15, 54-29, 72-51.