MANILA, Philippines – Just a win away from a perfect season.
The NU Lady Bulldogs moved on the cusp of reclaiming the UAAP women’s basketball championship after outlasting the UST Growling Tigresses, 72-71, in Game 1 of the Season 87 finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 8.
Trailing for most of the game, the Lady Bulldogs used a late third-quarter rally to pull within striking distance before providing the necessary stops down the stretch to seal the series-opening win.
The win put NU’s record this season at 15-0, following an elimination-round sweep that propelled them to an outright finals berth.
The Lady Bulldogs also stand just one victory away from reclaiming the throne they lost to the Tigresses last year.
“With our backs against the wall in the first half, nobody willed away from what we decided to do before the game, especially during the second half,“ said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“It was a big test for us. I was telling them to just trust the system and trust each other, that we would be able to get over that hump even if we were losing early on,” Dimaunahan added.
UST led by 14 points, 51-37, in the third quarter, before NU zoomed to a 20-6 run to tie it up entering the final period, 57-all.
Tied at 69 after a back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, the Lady Bulldogs took back the lead after Gypsey Canuto split her free throws, 70-69.
The Tigresses regained the cushion through Brigette Santos’ reverse layup, 71-70, before Cielo Pagdulangan converted the go-ahead basket to lift NU, 72-71.
The Lady Bulldogs then forced a turnover on Kent Pastrana’s drive with 40 seconds left, while Tacky Tacatac missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer, handing NU the win.
Karl Ann Pingol put up 18 points and 9 rebounds for NU, while Camille Clarin added 12 markers.
Angel Surada and Pagdulangan also fired 9 points each as the Lady Bulldogs averted their predicament last season when they lost the series opener against the eventual champions Tigresses.
“I think we learned big time last year from not really closing the game the way that it should be closed. In that process, we did not get the championship last year,” said Dimaunahan.
NU rebounded from a lackluster first half where they committed 22 turnovers against the Tigresses’ 11, limiting their errors to 9 in the second half, while UST had 12.
Pastrana topped all scorers with 22 points and 6 rebounds but was held scoreless in the final four minutes of the game.
Santos backed her up with 12 markers in the losing effort.
NU will shoot for a perfect title romp in Game 2 on Wednesday, December 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores
NU 72 – Pingol 18, Clarin 12, Surada 9, Pagdulagan 9, Fabruada 8, Betanio 6, Konateh 6, Cayabyab 3, Canuto 1, Villanueva 0, Solis 0.
UST 71 – Pastrana 22, Santos 12, Tacatac 8, Soriano 7, Maglupay 7, Ambos 7, Bron 6, Sierba 2, Danganan 0, Serrano 0.
Quarters: 16-26, 37-46, 57-57, 72-71.
– Rappler.com