MANILA – Defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) opened UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament with a decisive 86-44 victory over University of the East (UE) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday. Karylle Sierba, a product of the UST High School program, led the Growling Tigresses with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Kent Pastrana, the reigning Season 86 Athlete of the Year, added 15 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, while Rachelle Ambos contributed 13 points, 13 rebounds, and eight steals. Ambos emphasized the importance of stepping up following the graduation of last year’s Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer. By halftime, UST had established a commanding 41-24 lead, which they further extended to 86-40 late in the game.
In the post-game interview, UST coach Haydee Ong acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in reducing turnovers. “We started very excited, and the turnovers were unforced. Hopefully, we can address this in our next games,” Ong said.
For UE, Rachel Lacayanga led the team with 11 points and seven rebounds, while center Kamba Kone chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.
In another game, Adamson University triumphed over Far Eastern University (FEU) with a 76-63 win. The Lady Falcons capitalized on a 13-2 rally in the third quarter, led by Cheska Apag, Elaine Etang, and Kat Agojo, to secure a significant lead. Apag finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.