THE UST Growling Tigresses suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs, 77-76, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
UST stormed back from an 11-point deficit and led NU by three with 12.5 seconds left in the payoff period, 72-69.
However, Lady Bulldog Kristine Cayabyab hit a buzzer-beating triple that sent the game to overtime.
Tantoy Ferrer scored all of UST’s four points in extra period, helping the Tigresses mount a three-point cushion with 1:22 remaining, 76-73.
A costly Eka Soriano turnover that gave Angel Surada a couple of chances at the line allowed the Lady Bulldogs to trim the lead to one.
The Growling Tigresses could have drained the clock in the final possession, with the game and shot clocks virtually tied as clock but Brigette Santos attempted a three-pointer with 16 seconds left that missed, allowing NU to gain another possession.
Off a Camille Clarin miss, Gypsy Canuto drained the game-winning midrange jumper with 1.2 seconds left in overtime. This was her lone basket of the game.
UST was scoreless for more than five minutes in the first quarter after NU erupted for a 13-0 start in the first five minutes of the game.
However, the Tigresses shook off their jitters and came alive with a 12-7 blitz to trim NU’s lead.
UST trailed by five points at the half after a close 22-20 second quarter, 39-34.
NU pulled away in the third quarter with an 18-2 blast to gain a 17-point advantage over UST, 57-40.
UST failed to capitalize on its 19 steals and 32 total NU turnovers, scoring only 18 points off them.
Pastrana paced UST with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, four steals and two blocks, while Tacky Tacatac scored 12 points.
Soriano and Ferrer had 11 points apiece.
Karl Pingol chalked up 21 points and seven boards for NU, while Princess Fabruada and Cayabyab chipped in 11 points each.
The loss was not only heartbreaking, it also had a significant effect in the standings. UST dropped to the third seed with a 7-3 win-loss slate, while the NU solidified its hold of the top spot with a 9-1 record.
The Growling Tigresses will look to bounce back against the winless UE Lady Warriors at the same venue on Nov. 8, Wednesday, at 3 p.m. Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
