MANILA – In a pivotal UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament game, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses overcame the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws with a final score of 66-57 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Key performances in the fourth quarter by Kent Pastrana and Brigette Santos propelled UST to a commanding win, enhancing their record to 6-1 as they closed out the first round of the tournament.
According to Philippines News Agency, the game saw UST initially pull away with a decisive 56-43 lead following back-to-back baskets from Pastrana and Santos with under eight minutes remaining. However, the Lady Tamaraws, led by Shane Salvani, Joann Nagma, and Maxene Dela Torre, mounted a comeback to narrow the gap to 56-53 with just over three minutes on the clock. Despite this surge, UST responded vigorously, with Pastrana and Santos again stepping up to expand their lead and secure the win.
Kent Pastrana notably finished the game with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, adding two steals and two blocks to her impressive performance. Contributions also came from Tacky Tacatac, Karylle Sierba, Agatha Bron, and CJ Maglupay, who combined for significant points and rebounds, cementing UST’s strong finish in the round.
UST head coach Haydee Ong expressed mixed feelings about the team’s performance despite the win, emphasizing the need for consistent effort from all players. “A win is a win. Our constant like Kent always performs so we need more players to show up and help Kent for our succeeding games,” Ong remarked post-game.
On the other side, FEU’s struggles continued as they recorded their fourth consecutive loss, leaving them at the bottom of the standings with a 1-6 record. Shane Salvani led FEU with a notable 16 points and 15 rebounds.
The UAAP games also featured action in the junior division, where FEU-Diliman secured a win against UST. In another closely contested matchup, the National University Nazareth School edged out Ateneo de Manila University with both teams now holding 3-4 records.