MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses moved on to the semifinals of the 2025 WMPBL season with a 63-54 win over New Zealand-Bluefire Valkyries in the quarterfinals round at the New Era Gym.
Negrense Kent Jane Pastrana finished with 11 points, while Nigerian Isioma Onianwa led the way with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Growling Tigresses moved on to the Final Four round.
Holding to a slim 50-46 lead with under five minutes left in the game, the Growling Tigresses went on a 9-0 scoring run, including six from Onianwa, to establish the largest lead of 13 points at 59-46.
“Yes, happy na nanalo pero not satisfied yet kasi alam ko marami pang kailangang i-improve both on the technical side saka sa pagdating sa effort,” said Growling Tigresses head coach Ged Austria after the game.
“Pero pagdating sa panalo, a win is a win. We want to advance kaagad, which is nagawa naman namin. Everything else, mako-correct naman sa susunod,” added the son of San Miguel Beermen mentor Leo Austria.
Camille Claro paced New Zealand-Bluefire with 15 points and four assists, while Snow Peñaranda had 14 points and nine rebounds in a losing cause.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy Lady Sailors kept their campaign alive after a 56-43 victory over the Galeries Tower, disarming the latter of their twice-to-beat incentive.
Afril Bernardino did almost everything just to keep Navy alive, pouring 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, five steals, and three blocks, while Andrea Tongco and Janelle Mendoza chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Pool A top seed Discovery Perlas and second-placed Pilipinas Aguilas set up a semifinal showdown in the tourney after taking down their separate quarterfinals opponents.
The Aguilas used a balanced offensive strike to dismantle third-ranked Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 78-49, while Perlas dominated Cavite-TOL, 93-58, to complete the semis cast in Pool B./PN
