(NI JOSEPH BONIFACIO)

PINAGPRAKTISAN lang ng University of Santo Tomas ang University of the Philippines, matapos tambakan ng 55 puntos, 103-48 sa kanilang laro kahapon sa UAAP Season 82 women’s basketball tournament sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Namuno sa opensiba si last season’s MVP Grace Irebu, na nagpasabog ng double-double performance na 23 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks at two steals, para pangunahan ang apat pang Golden Tigresses ang may double digits scoring para simulan ang kanilang kampanya.

“They say na mahirap to start the season and get the first win, but we’re happy to have this one,” komento ni coach Haydee Ong, na nakatuon na mapataas ang kanilang bronze medal finish noong nakaraang taon.

Nagdagdag si Tantoy Ferrer ng 20 points, eight boards at three steals, habang si Jeorge Panti ay may 15 points, three rebounds at two steals.

May 12 points at seven rebounds naman si Lon Rivera at si Aly Gonzales ay nagsumite ng 11 points.

Hindi binigyan ng puwang ng UST ang UP na makadikit man lang, katibayan nito ang 35 turnovers na nakomit ng Lady Maroons, nan ai-convert ng Golden Tigresses sa 36 points.

Samantala, umatake ang National University sa second half para takpan ang 36 points ni Mar Prado at talunin ang Adamson, 99-78.

Ang bagitong si Camille Clarin ay nagposte ng season-best 23 points, kasama ang limeng rebounds at four assists para pangunahan ang iskoring ng Lady Bulldogs sa ikalawang panalo at ideretso ang win streak sa 82.

Si Jack Animam ay nagsumite ng double-double na 14 points, 10 rebounds at tatlong steals, habang si Monique del Carmen ay may 12 points at six assists.

Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin kuntento si Lady Bulldogs coach Pat Aquino dahil naniniwala siyang mas may ibubuga pa ang kanyang tropa.

“I still can see the real potential of the team. It’s not just one guy who can make it happen this year, it takes everyone to make things happen and we’re getting there,” paliwanag ni Aquino. “I know that we started slow again but we’re just trying to be more aggressive in the coming games.”

Nagpainit muna ang NU bago umatake sa third canto, kung saan nagpasabog ng 28 puntos tungo sa 30-point lead, 71-41, kasama ang tres ni Clarin na tumapos sa third quarter sa 76-56 count.

Bagamat malaki ang naging kalamangan ng NU, hindi naging madali ang panalo, nang hindi nila maawat ang opens ani Prado ng Lady Falcons na may 11-of-23 sa field at 14-of-21 sa free throw line.

“She played very aggressively and she really wanted to show us that she has it. That’s the kind of player that if they really want it, they could do it,” komento ni Aquino patungkol kay Prado. “I’m so proud of her for playing that good, and to coach Ewon (Arayi) for giving her the confidence and making Adamson a well-oiled team.”

Ang iskor:

UST 103 — Irebu 23, Ferrer 20, Panti 15, Rivera 12, Gonzales 11, Portillo 8, Manuel 4, Soriano 3, Gandalla 3, Casiano 2, Callangan 2, Sangalang 0, Javier 0.

UP 48 — Sanchez 11, De Leon 10, Lebico 10, Ordoveza 7, Pesquera 4, Gusilatar 2, Taulava 2, Hidalgo 2, Rivera 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarterscores: 26-17, 48-30, 76-38, 103-48.