La Salle falls to Grace Irebu-powered UST, ends first round on a whimper

In what has been an up and down UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament campaign so far for the De La Salle University Lady Archers, the team encountered another setback in its quest to return to the Final Four.

Up against Grace Irebu and the rest of the UST Growling Tigresses, the Lady Archers suffered their fourth loss of the year, a 47-76 result, Saturday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The result leaves La Salle with a 3-4 record at the end of the first round of the tourney.

Down 30-33 by halftime, La Salle succumbed to a UST team that raised its intensity right at the start of the third quarter. The Lady Archers failed to contain Irebu, who ended up producing a double-double performance of 36 points and 20 rebounds. The widest deficit came late in the contest at 29 points courtesy of Carol Sangalang’s basket.

Kent Pastrana and Bennette Revillosa led the charge for La Salle with 13 points each while Charmaine Torres contributed eight boards.

It was a poor shooting day for the Green and White as the Lady Archers were only able to sink one three-pointer out of 18 attempts and only converted 18 free throws out of a possible 42.

Ultimately, though, all is not lost for La Salle with the second round yet to come. There is still no word as to who the Lady Archers will next face to kick off the next seven crucial assignments.

Box scores:

La Salle 47 – Pastrana 13, Revillosa 13, Sario 6, Paraiso 5, Torres 3, Camba 2, Del Campo 2, Okoli 2, Quingco 1, Binaohan, Castillo, Dalisay, Espinas, Malarde.

UST 76 – Irebu 36, Rivera 10, Tacatac 9, Soriano 5, Ferrer 4, Panti 4, Portillo 4, Gandalla 2, Sangalang 2, Callagan, Ginzales, Javier.

Quarter scores: 12-20, 30-33, 37-55, 47-76.

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