UST’s Rhianne Perez in action against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 girls’ basketball tournament, January 18, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Katipunan. UAAP Media
MANILA — Rhianne Perez recorded a triple-double as defending champion University of Santo Tomas cruised past Ateneo de Manila University, 136-32, in the UAAP Season 88 girls’ basketball tournament on Sunday.
The big win at the Blue Eagle Gym kept UST unbeaten with a 2-0 win-loss record.
The Junior Growling Tigresses shook off a slow start, with Indonesian center Koukou Talla, Pia Petalcorin, and Lea Pinuela sparking a second quarter surge.
Perez then took over in the second half, eventually finishing with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, along with 11 assists, 10 rebounds, five steals, and one block, posting a game-high plus-89 rating in 29 minutes and four seconds of play.
The last player to record a triple-double in the division was Perez’s former teammate, Season 87 MVP Barby Dajao, who tallied 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 91-66 second-round win over National University Nazareth School on March 6, 2025.
“Medyo shaky ulit yung first quarter namin, pero at least, nakikita ko yung players na medyo nagse-settle down na. I don’t know how long would it take pero I just hope na pagdating ng next game namin, mawala na yung mga jitters nila,” UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco said.
After a slow opening quarter in which the Blue Eagles stayed within striking distance at 18-14, the Junior Growling Tigresses quickly recovered, putting together a dominant 41-8 second-quarter run—capped by consecutive layups from Pau Arciaga and Petalcorin—to enter halftime with a commanding 59-21 lead.
UST maintained firm control in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 17-2 run and relying on five consecutive layups from Perez to extend their lead to 93-27.
The Junior Growling Tigresses continued their dominance in the fourth quarter, scoring 43 points while holding Ateneo to just five, sealing their second victory in as many games this season.
Nadine Labay led six UST players in double figures with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting and one steal, while Janice Oczon contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
Talla finished with 18 points, six rebounds, six steals, four blocks, and three assists, while Petalcorin and Arciaga each added 14 points in the wire-to-wire win.
Matia Molina paced Ateneo in the losing effort with 11 points, followed by Tyler Templo, who posted nine points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The Blue Eagles will look to end their two-game skid in a clash against the Junior Lady Archers on Sunday, January 25, at the same venue.
The Scores:
UST (136) – Labay 21, Oczon 20, Talla 18, Perez 16, Petalcorin 14, Arciaga 14, Pinuela 8, Capinpin 6, Townes 5, Anacan 4, Mateo 4, Hew 4, Kallos 2.
Ateneo (32) – Molina 11, Templo 9, Ebao 4, Gozum 3, Palmiery 2, Doque 2, Ablang 1, Dalanon 0, Madamba 0, Mariano 0, Vejerano 0, Trillo 0.
