By Vince Matthew Jaramilla
Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws fell victim to a Season 89 sweep from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses, 48-95, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament earlier today, November 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Despite coming into the match as underdogs, FEU leaned on defensive pressure to keep up with the reigning champions, 10-10.
However, the Lady Tamaraws’ own struggle against the Growling Tigresses’ defense proved to be a bigger issue, collapsing into a 2-24 skid to end the first quarter, 12-34.
Elaine Patio rallied the green-and-gold squad in the second frame, logging seven points in a 9-2 run to decrease the deficit, 21-36.
Gilas Pilipinas duo Amyah Espanol and Victoria Pasilang then took charge in the latter part of the canto, but the lack of varied offense caused the Morayta-based squad to fall behind once again, 29-53.
By halftime, only the three cagebelles were on FEU’s scoreboard as Pasilang led the pack with 14 points while Patio and Espanol followed with nine and six markers, respectively.
Pasilang remained persistent, leading the team with six more points in the third quarter, but UST quickly answered every Lady Tamaraw bucket.
With the Raiza Palmera-Dy squad almost fully suppressed, they barely scored double digits in the frame, 39-76, even facing a lead as high as 32 points at one point.
Even though the game was essentially decided as the fourth canto came along, the deficit only continued to inflate for the Morayta-based squad with the España-based cagebelles almost doubling their production to end the match, 48-95.
Pasilang finished the game with 20 points and nine boards while Espanol and Patio contributed 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
The only two other players to score out of the 14 who played on the floor were EJ Lopez with three points and Maxene Dela Torre with two.
FEU will attempt to boost their morale back up as they challenge University of the Philippines on Saturday, November 14, at the same venue.
(Photo by Prince Espela/FEU Advocate)