MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion University of Santo Tomas nabbed the second Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament after dominating Far Eastern University, 70-54, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Growling Tigresses secured their sixth straight Final Four appearance with their ninth win in 10 games, joining unbeaten leader and last year’s runner-up National University (9-0), which could book an outright finals berth and force a stepladder semifinal format if it sweeps the elimination round.

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UST, which led FEU by as many as 26 points, leaned on Tacky Tacatac, who scored a game-high 12 points on top of three steals, two rebounds, and two assists.

READ: UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs, UST Tigresses stay in the lead

The UST Growling Tigresses (9-1) book a Final Four ticket after beating the FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-7), 70-54. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/fAvNbRhvZ2

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 27, 2024

Kent Pastrana posted a double-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Rachelle Ambos also tallied a double-double performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Karylle Sierba chipped in nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while CJ Maglupay added eight points and 11 rebounds.

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“Lahat naman ng program, it’s not overnight. Talagang you have to make the puzzle right, yung mga right pieces of players, right recruitment, and the UST program is more on player development rather than recruitment program,” said UST coach Haydee Ong, who booked her sixth trip to the Final Four in her seventh season. “We wanted na pag may rinecruit kaming player, it’s not always the best players, but always the right one for our program.”

“We played according to our game plan. Yung mga easy baskets for FEU, mga turnovers namin need i-address, but overall naman, we’re happy for the win. Yung mga dapat magstep up, nagstep up, and we give some time naman doon sa bench ko for them to be exposed,” she added.

UST battles first-round tormentor NU on Wednesday at the same venue.

FEU slid to a 2-7 record with Joann Nagma and Yvette Villanueva leading with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Shane Salvani had an all-around stat line of eight points, 10 assists, six steals, and one block, while Victoria Pasilang chipped in eight points, four rebounds, and one assist as their leading scorer MJ Manguiat, who averaged 13.38 points prior to this game, was limited to three points on 0-of-10 shooting.

READ: UAAP: NU sweeps first round, UST rises to 6-1 in women’s basketball

Meanwhile, Adamson boosted its Final Four bid after escaping University of the Philippines, 57-54, to tighten its grip on the third place with a 7-3 record.

The Adamson Lady Falcons (6-3) after escaping the UP Fighting Maroons (3-6) with a 57-54 victory. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/U5ASSt1v3M

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 27, 2024

Adamson squandered a 53-47 lead as Achrissa Maw and Kaye Pesquera made it a four-point game with the latter making two free throws to cut it down to one, 55-54, with 16.7 seconds left.

Elaine Etang only made one of her four free-throw attempts for a 56-54 breather, as UP failed to maximize its chance to tie or steal the win as Erika Jimenez committed a crucial turnover.

“If you are aiming for the Final Four, you are not guaranteed after a strong first round even how good of a position you have. We were just telling them na the next three games are very crucial in our bid for a Final Four spot,” said Adamson head coach Ryan Monteclaro. “Luckily, we are two out of three. With this win, I hope this will be the momentum that we’re willing looking forward to heading into the deeper part of the season.”

“For a team to shoot 18-of-71 and still win the game, that shows our character. In the first half, we were focused on our attempts, we were so tentative. It ended up with we have 71 attempts and they have 51. We became more aggressive and it reflects on how we defended,” he added.

Etang dropped 22 points, five steals, four rebounds, and one assist, while Kem Adeshina contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and one assist. for Adamson.

UP’s playoff hopes took a hit as they fell to a 3-6 record, remaining in fifth place with five games left.

Rizza Lozada was the lone double-digit scorer for UP with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Pesquera and Maw added nine points apiece.

The Scores:

First Game:

Adamson (57) – Etang 22, Adeshina 15, Agojo 5, Apag 3, Mazo 3, Padilla 3, Alaba 3, Meniano 2, Limbago 1, Ornopia 0, Cortez 0, Bajo 0, Alaba 0.

UP (54) – Lozada 13, Pesquera 9, Maw 9, Ozar 8, Bariquit 5, Jimenez 5, Vingno 2, Sauz 2, Tapawan 1, Mendoza 0, Nolasco 0.

Quarterscores: 13-14, 30-32, 42-43, 57-54.

Second Game:

UST (70) – Tacatac 12, Pastrana 11, Ambos 10, Sierba 9, Maglupay 8, Santos 8, Pescador 5, N. Danganan 4, Soriano 3, Relliquette 0, Pineda 0, Serrano 0, Amatong 0, Bron 0.

FEU (54) – Nagma 11, Villanueva 10, Salvani 8, Pasilang 8, Lopez 7, Ong 3, Manguiat 3, Dela Torre 3, Paras 1.

Quarterscores: 16-13, 41-24, 60-36, 70-54