By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses secured a dominant 105-33 victory over the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Lady Scorpions in the WMPBL Inaugural Season at the Enderun College Gym in Taguig City on Wednesday night, February 19.

Negrense Kent Jane Pastrana spearheaded the offense with 22 points, including four three-pointers, to go with seven assists, five rebounds and five steals as the Growling Tigresses improved to a 3-0 win-loss slate.

“Sa training namin, palagi naming sinisimulan sa defense. Nag-usap kami na kapag dumepensa kami, mas makaka-score kami, and dun lang kami nag-stick,” Pastrana said after the game.

Isioma Onianwa added a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Gin Kayla Relliquette contributed 14 points, while Ayesha Pescador, Karylle Sierba and Angelika Soriano had 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for UST.

Diana Rose Defeles finished with nine points and five rebounds for the Scorpions, who absorbed their third defeat in four matches.

Meanwhile, Mary April Snow Peñaranda scored a go-ahead basket as the New Zealand Bluefire Valkyries (5-1) scored a 70-68 escape over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws (1-3).

With the score tied at 68-all after a conversion by Lady Tamaraws’ Amyah Espanol with 17 seconds left, Peñaranda attacked the FEU defense for a go-ahead layup with five seconds left.

Peñaranda top-scored for the Valkyries with 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, and one assist, while Altita Angel Quingco contributed 12 points and eight rebounds in the victory./ASC, WDJ