University of Santo Tomas inched closer to securing a playoff spot after dismantling Cavite-TOL, 96-46, in the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) Invitational Tournament, Wednesday at the Divine Light Academy Gym.
The Growling Tigresses, now at 5-1, tied Philippine Navy for the top spot in a tightly contested Pool B of the tournament.
So overpowering UST was it hiked its lead to as big as 51 points, 96-45, following an Oma Onianwa layup with 2:27 left in the game.
Karylle Sierba led UST’s offensive onslaught with 23 points on an ultra-efficient 11-of-13 shooting, while also collecting eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
Kent Pastrana contributed 11 points and eight assists with just one turnover, while Vergen Maglupay notched a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists. Onianwa added eight points, six rebounds, three steals, and four boards in just 14 minutes of play.
The Lady Patriots slipped to 2-4.
Meanwhile, San Juan and FEU bolstered their playoff bids the former scoring a 43-42 win over CEU and the latter romping to a 91-60 win over Imus-SIS VBL Lady Magdalo in Pool A.
With 50 seconds left, Jhenn Angeles nailed a clutch stop-and-pop jumper from the left elbow—her only field goal of the game—to give San Juan a 43-40 lead.
CEU had chances to respond but failed to capitalize on its possessions.
