Karylle Sierba Leads UST Past La Salle for Sixth Straight Win

UST moved within one victory of an unbeaten UAAP Season 89 first round after overpowering La Salle, 83-62, Wednesday. The Growling Tigresses improved to 6-0 as Karylle Sierba scored 20 points following her career-high performance last game.

UST Stays Perfect With Sixth Straight Victory

Dan Cedric V. Latasa of The Varsitarian covered UST’s commanding victory over La Salle at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Tigresses remained alone atop the standings at 6-0, while the Lady Archers dropped to 1-5 following another defeat.

UST can complete an unbeaten opening round by defeating the University of the Philippines in its final first-round assignment Sunday. A seventh consecutive victory would send the Tigresses into the second half of Season 89 holding a perfect 7-0 record.

Image from: The Varsitarian / Facebook

Tigresses Move One Win From Round 1 Sweep

UST has defeated each of its first six opponents, leaving UP as the final obstacle before a possible first-round sweep. The Tigresses will meet the Fighting Maroons on October 25 at the Blue Eagle Gym to complete their opening-round schedule.

Full-Court Pressure Forces 12 Early La Salle Turnovers

UST immediately applied full-court pressure and forced La Salle into 12 turnovers during the opening quarter of Wednesday’s matchup. Those early mistakes helped the Tigresses establish a 16-12 advantage before La Salle responded during the following period.

The Lady Archers moved ahead, 23-22, through Aiesha Dizon’s layup before UST regained control approaching the halftime break. UST closed the second quarter with an 18-10 run, carrying a 40-33 advantage into the locker room.

UST Takes 40-33 Lead Into Halftime

CJ Maglupay contributed two-and-one conversions during UST’s second-quarter response after La Salle briefly moved ahead by one point. The Tigresses recovered from the 23-22 deficit and outscored La Salle across the closing stretch before halftime arrived.

Karylle Sierba Scores 20 After Career-High 35

Sierba scored 20 points on 50-percent shooting against La Salle after producing a career-high 35 points in her previous appearance. She added two steals and two assists, giving her 55 combined points across UST’s latest two Season 89 games.

Her latest scoring performance helped UST remain unbeaten while extending a productive individual stretch entering the final first-round matchup against UP. Sierba emphasized consistency afterward while discussing her responsibilities and continued development before the second round of the tournament.

Sierba Emphasizes Consistency Before Round 2

Sierba credited her readiness to follow the coaching staff’s instructions while identifying consistency as an important area for continued improvement.

“Ready lang ako palagi kung ano ang ipapagawa ni coach sa akin, and sinabi sa akin ni coach na kailangan kong maging consistent. Pagtatrabahuhan ko pa para sa second round para ma-improve ko pa ‘yong game ko,” Sierba said postgame.

Her comments followed consecutive productive scoring performances as UST approached the conclusion of its unbeaten Season 89 opening round.

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UST Pulls Away From La Salle After Halftime

UST opened the third quarter with a 9-4 run, stretching its advantage to 50-37 behind Sierba’s runner and jumper. Avril Bron later connected from the wing before the third-quarter buzzer, preserving UST’s 13-point advantage entering the final period.

The Tigresses outscored La Salle, 21-13, during the fourth quarter before completing their sixth consecutive victory with an 83-62 score. Bukko Ojo led the Lady Archers with 20 points, but La Salle finished the matchup with its fifth defeat.

Tigresses Complete 83-62 Victory

Sierba and Santos contributed baskets during the final period as UST expanded its advantage beyond the third-quarter margin. The 21-point final margin completed another victory for the only unbeaten team through six games of the Season 89 tournament.

UP Stands Between UST and Perfect First Round

UST will complete its first-round schedule against the University of the Philippines on October 25 at the Blue Eagle Gym. The Tigresses enter that matchup at 6-0 after defeating La Salle by 21 points in their penultimate opening-round assignment.

A victory against UP would complete UST’s seven-game first-round schedule without a defeat before the tournament enters Round 2. The matchup also gives Sierba another opportunity following consecutive games producing 35 and 20 points for the unbeaten Tigresses.

Tigresses Can Complete Round 1 at 7-0

UST remains the only unbeaten team through its first six games and needs one more victory to complete a perfect opening round. UP represents the final first-round opponent before the Tigresses begin facing the Season 89 field again during Round 2.

Analytical Breakdown: Defensive Intensity Sets Up UST’s Scoring

UST’s full-court pressure creates offensive opportunities by disrupting opponents before they can comfortably establish their preferred half-court actions. Sierba’s scoring consistency strengthens that advantage, giving the Tigresses another reliable threat when defenses adjust to their pressure-driven tempo. UST becomes harder to challenge when its defensive intensity produces turnovers while multiple scorers consistently convert those extra possessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did UST beat La Salle in UAAP Season 89?

UST defeated La Salle, 83-62, to remain unbeaten through its first six UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball games.

What is UST’s UAAP Season 89 record?

The Growling Tigresses improved to 6-0 and remain atop the standings with one first-round game remaining.

How many points did Karylle Sierba score?

Sierba scored 20 points on 50-percent shooting while adding two steals and two assists against the Lady Archers.

Who led La Salle against UST?

Bukko Ojo led the Lady Archers with 20 points during their 83-62 defeat against the unbeaten Tigresses.

Who will UST play next?

UST will face the University of the Philippines on October 25 at the Blue Eagle Gym to complete Round 1.

Disclaimer: Headline Image from The Varsitarian on Facebook.