The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses continued their dominant run in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament, overpowering the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 93-65, to secure their eighth consecutive victory on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Nigerian standout Oma Onianwa led UST with an impressive double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, powering the Tigresses to another convincing win and keeping their unbeaten record intact at 8-0.
Brig Santos and Karylle Sierba also delivered significant contributions, scoring 18 points apiece as UST maintained its position at the top of the standings.
UP, meanwhile, slipped to a 4-4 record despite a competitive scoring effort from its key players. Louna Ozar finished with 16 points, Kenna Ka added 15, and Camille Nolasco contributed 12.
The victory further strengthened UST’s championship campaign, with the Tigresses continuing to establish themselves as the team to beat in the women’s basketball competition.
UE Ends 31-Game Losing Streak Against La Salle
The day also produced a major breakthrough for the University of the East (UE), which finally ended its 31-game losing streak by edging De La Salle University, 68-65.
The victory marked UE’s first UAAP women’s basketball win since September 22, 2024, when the Lady Warriors also defeated La Salle during Season 87.
Under head coach Ian Valdez, UE improved to 1-7, matching La Salle’s record after the narrow defeat.
Sy Oñate spearheaded the Lady Warriors with 25 points, delivering the scoring performance that helped UE secure a long-awaited breakthrough.
Rachel Lacayanga also played a crucial role, recording 18 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
For La Salle, Bukky Ojo finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Kyla Go posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists.
The result was a significant moment for UE, which had endured more than two years without a victory in the tournament.
NU Overpowers Ateneo to Strengthen Second-Place Hold
National University (NU) also recorded a convincing victory, defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 84-60, to claim its second consecutive win.
Tin Cayabyab led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points as NU improved to 6-2, keeping the team in second place behind unbeaten UST.
Ateneo struggled to contain NU’s offensive attack and dropped to 3-5, placing sixth in the standings.
Despite the defeat, Kacey de la Rosa delivered a strong individual performance for the Blue Eagles, finishing with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
UST Maintains Control as UAAP Race Intensifies
With an unblemished 8-0 record, UST remains firmly in control of the UAAP women’s basketball standings.
The Tigresses’ latest victory over UP demonstrated their offensive depth, with Onianwa, Santos and Sierba combining for 56 points.
NU remains the closest challenger at 6-2, while UP holds a 4-4 record as the competition moves forward.
Beyond the battle for the top positions, UE’s breakthrough victory added another major storyline to the tournament, ending one of the longest losing streaks in the league’s recent women’s basketball history.
As the season progresses, UST will look to preserve its unbeaten run while its rivals attempt to close the gap in an increasingly competitive race for the championship.
