Sierba stars with career-high 35 as Tigresses devour Blue Eagles

MANILA, Philippines -- Karylle Sierba erupted for a career-best 35 points to lead the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 90-67, to remain unscathed in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila. 

Sierba shot 9-of-18 from the field and a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw stripe in the victory. She also tallied six steals, four rebounds, two assists and a block. 

The guard now holds the season-high in points in a single game, eclipsing Ateneo’s Kacey dela Rosa, who had 31 points in an earlier defeat against the National University Lady Bulldogs. 

“Yung opensa naman, hindi ko naman masyadong iniisip yun and darating talaga kapag para sayo,” Sierba said. 

“I’m happy lang kasi di ko talaga in-expect to and naglalaro lang ako at walang iniisip kundi makatulong sa team. So, super happy lang.”

The game was close early in the fourth quarter, with the Blue Eagles trailing by just five points, 61-66, with 8:29 remaining. 

But an 8-0 run, capped by an Erinn McAlary triple, pushed UST’s lead to 13, 74-61, with 6:14 left. 

Hannah Lopez answered back with a trey of her own, 64-74, but the Tigresses bared their fangs and picked the Eagles apart. 

UST unleashed 14 straight points to leave Ateneo on the rear-view mirror, 88-64, with 1:45 to go. 

Kai Oani snapped the run with a triple, but the deficit was too big to come back from. 

McAlary seconded Sierba’s career outing with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Oma Onianwa added 12 markers and nine boards in the win. 

Dela Rosa had a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds in the defeat. Alyssa Rodriguez added 14 points while Junize Calago chipped in 10.

With the win, UST remained undefeated through five contests. 

Ateneo dropped to a 2-3 win-loss record. 

In the first women’s game of the day, University of the Philippines kept the University of the East Lady Red Warriors without a win via a 57-43 victory.

Kennan Ka top-scored for the 3-2 Fighting Maroons with 12 points and six rebounds. 

Rachel Lacayanga had 17 markers for UE, which lost all of its five games thus far.