ORPHANED by their chief playmaker for health reasons, the UST Tigresses bowed before a rampaging Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 47-80, to absorb their second defeat in five games, last July 27 at the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym.
The Tigresses sorely missed the backcourt presence of Season 70 Mythical Team member Marichu Bacaro, who underwent a tooth extraction a day before the game.
“The rest of the team was shocked when they knew Bacaro could not play,” coach Peque Tan told the Varsitarian. “They were not moving in their usual element.”
Taking advantage of Bacaro’s absence, FEU quickly caught UST in a gold-and-green tripwire, racing to an 18-0 run early in the first quarter which later swelled to an insurmountable 15-43 bulge at halftime.
The Lady Tamaraws continued their fierce snipping in the second half, nailing successive jumpers for a larger-than-life 29-point advantage entering the fourth period, 35-64.
FEU then launched its missiles from the perimeter and beyond the arc, knocking down triples and jump shots at will to stretch the lead further, 43-74, going into the final minutes of the contest.
Sophomore Paula Bombeo raked in 17 points to led the Tigresses while Chovi Borja topscored for the Lady Tamaraws with 17 markers.
Previously, the Tigresses walloped a lethargic National University Lady Bulldogs in a lopsided 62-38 victory last July 23.
The Tigresses however yielded a 52-53 contest to archnemesis University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 52-53, after back-up point guard Gail Fermin missed a jumpshot at the buzzer last July 20.
With its rookies leading the charge, UST breezed past the University of the East Amazons, 61-37, last July 12.
The Tigresses opened their campaign on a high note, fashioning a confidence-boosting 65-57 ouster of the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles last July 4. Mika Rafaela A. Barrios
