UST turns back Adamson to arrange finals rematch with NU in UAAP women's basketball

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas is returning to the finals after completing a season sweep of Adamson University with a 71-59 victory in the knockout stepladder semifinal of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The Growling Tigresses shrugged off the Lady Falcons’ second quarter surge to set up a best-of-three finals rematch against unscathed National University on Sunday.

Kent Pastrana scattered an all-around effort highlighted by a double-double showcase of 23 points and 16 rebounds that went with eight assists, two steals, and one block.

Apart from MVP runner-up Pastrana, three other Tigresses finished in double figures with CJ Maglupay posting a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double performance of her own on efficient 6-of-8 shooting. 

Tacky Tacatac and Brigette Santos added 10 points each in the victory that will see UST contend for the title thrice in the last four seasons all against NU. 

UST jumped to a 21-4 lead in the first period with 2:41 left before Adamson found its groove and unleashed a 33-14 blitz of its own that saw them at sniffing distance come the halftime break following Crisnalyn Padilla’s last-second three-pointer to make it 37-35. 

Cheska Apag then gave the Lady Falcons a four-point cushion halfway through the third period after knocking down two freebies, 43-39, before she ended up being carried off the court late in the payoff period. 

However, the defending champs regained full consciousness in the second half in no time as Pastrana, Maglupay, and Tacatac took turns widening the gap for another double-digit advantage towards the end of the third period, 56-46. 

The final period was no different with Pastrana continuing the assault with back-to-back layups to determine the final count. 

“Let’s give credit to Adamson, to coach Ryan Monteclaro and his girls. Talagang they gave us a hard time. Salute them. It was total team effort and at the end of the day ‘yung defense namin dictated nung second half. [CJ] Maglupay kinakabahan kasi first time, but double-double wala na akong masabi kay CJ and kay Kent [Pastrana]. At least nakita na nila kung paano maglaro pag nagdo-doble siya and sharing the ball, ‘yung assists niya. Hats off to the whole team,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong. 

Elaine Etang and Oluwakemi Adeshina had 12 points apiece in led the losing cause for the Marcelino-based squad, which was coming off a spirited overtime victory against presumptive MVP Kacey Dela Rosa's Ateneo de Manila University last week. 

UST and NU will rekindle their new-age championship rivalry starting on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Scores:

UST 71 – Pastrana 23, Maglupay 13, Santos 10, Tacatac 10, Ambos 7, Danganan 4, Sierba 4, Soriano 0, Bron 0, Amatong 0, Pescador 0, Relliquette 0.

Adamson 59 – Etang 12, Adeshina 12, A. Alaba 9, Apag 7, Agojo 6, Bajo 4, Limbago 4, Padilla 3, Manlimos 2, Meniano 0, Ornopia 0, E. Alaba 0, Mazo 0.

Quarters: 21-12, 35-37, 56-48, 71-59

—JKC, GMA Integrated News