Lady Bulldogs rip Growling Tigresses in UAAP basketball

THE National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs trounced the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses, 71-49, to clinch their 11th win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Florymae Ceño hit a three-pointer with 3:27 minutes remaining in the opening quarter, 15-7. The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to 13 with Afril Bernardino and Gemma Miranda scoring baskets inside the paint, 20-7.

With the Growling Tigresses suffering four consecutive misses in the 7:44 minute mark of the second period, Jhenn Angeles broke the silence for UST by sinking a jumper and a fastbreak layup, 25-13.

Jack Animam scored a putback off her own miss with 5:36 remaining in the first half, 28-13.

The Tigresses capitalized on the fouls given by the Lady Bulldogs in the last minute of the first half as Sofia Felisarta sank both her free throws, while Misaela Larosa split her baskets from the line, 38-18.

Midway through the third canto, the blue-and-gold lady cagers initiated a 60 run through the efforts of Bernardino, Miranda, and Rhena Itesi, 52-24.

Shanda Anies stopped the bleeding for UST and shot a basket from the arc with 2:18 minutes left in the third frame, 52-27.

The Tigresses completed a 10-0 run to close the match at 71-49.

“There are times that (our three-point shots) didn’t go in but still, I just fold them to make an effort that we’re doing things in our system and don’t go out of that system. They know that they can win and could do anything but as I told them we gotta be in the system so that everybody knows what you’re doing. Maybe we missed some shots from the three points but others have complemented in other things like good defense at one end and the other,” said NU head coach Patrick Aquino.

Bernardo top scored NU with a dou- ble-double performance of 24 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Miranda with 14 markers and 10 boards, and Animam with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Anies and Angeles led UST with 11 markers apiece, while Bettina Peñaflor added 10 more points.\

The NU Lady Bulldogs remained at the top spot with an 11-0 win-loss card, while the UST Tigresses carry a 3-7 slate.

Earlier, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws stunned the second seed De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 66-62.

The Lady Tamaraws beat their rivals in rebound – 51 against the Lady Archers’ 36.

Loraine Ventura led FEU with 13 markers as Maria Balleser and Princess Jumuad added 10 apiece. Camille Claro and Kat Nuñez owned the bright spot with 10 points apiece.

With the victory, the FEU Lady Tamaraws improved its record to 3-7, while the La Salle Lady Archers currently sit at second place with an 8-2 card.