The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Growling Tigresses asserted their dominance in the first-ever Akari U16 Girls’ Basketball Invitational, capping off a perfect 7-0 campaign with a commanding 71-23 win over Tripple B in the finals held at Victoria Sports Tower on Sunday.
Despite missing top scorer Sofia Petalcorin in the finale, UST never missed a beat, showcasing their depth to secure the gold medal.
Petalcorin still earned a spot on the Mythical Team and was named Best Defensive Player, finishing the tournament with 176 statistical points.
Finals MVP Jesabel Anacan led the charge with an all-around performance of 10 points, 17 rebounds, and three assists. Uriel Capinpin, another Mythical Team selection, paced the scoring with 14 points, while Noelle Arciaga and Zianna Kallos added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
On the other end, Matia Molina led Tripple B with eight points and nine rebounds, while standout Tyler Templo was limited to just three points in the title game.
Despite the finals setback, Templo was named Tournament MVP, finishing with a tournament-best 184 statistical points.
UST’s dominance and depth made them worthy champions of the historic tournament, and if this was just the beginning, the future of girls’ basketball is looking more exciting than ever.
