THE UST Growling Tigresses snapped their 20-game losing skid against the NU Lady Bulldogs, taking Game 1 of their best-of-three UAAP Season 86 finals series via a 76-72 stunner on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigresses had not beaten NU since Aug. 31, 2012, in Season 75. Their first win against the Lady Bulldogs in over a decade placed them a game away from winning their first championship since Season 69.
Up by two, 73-71, Tantoy Ferrer located Rocel Dionisio under the basket for a layup to give UST a two-possession lead, 75-71, with 54 seconds left to play.
NU couldn’t capitalize on its late-game attempts, giving way for the Tigresses to take the Game 1 victory.
The Tigresses showed early aggression in the game, mounting an early 10-0 run that gave them a 10-4 lead in the opening canto.
A Kent Pastrana triple gave UST a 20-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs tried to rally in the second quarter with a 7-0 run to trim the deficit, 25-23. But UST kept its hold of the lead, closing the half with a 36-31 lead sealed by a Nikki Villasin three-pointer.
The Tigresses closed the third quarter with a 54-51 advantage despite being outscored by the Lady Bulldogs, 20-18, and giving up an 11-4 run that temporarily gave NU the lead.
“So happy, of course, that finally, meron [na] kaming panalo against NU. And which is most important because this is the championship series,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said postgame.
“Thank you sa mga girls, they really worked hard for this, the whole team. Until the last second na pwedeng humabol yung NU, they keep their composure and hindi na nangyari yung last time [na] what happened.”
The Tigresses lost their second elimination game this season against the Lady Bulldogs in overtime, 77-76.
UST, with 16 steals, scored 27 points off NU turnovers.
Five Tigresses scored in double figures in the win, whereas only two Lady Bulldogs scored at least 10.
Tantoy Ferrer paced the Tigresses with an all-around performance of 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Pastrana led UST in scoring with 18 markers and six dimes, while Tacky Tacatac contributed 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
Camille Clarin led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points and six assists, while Karl Pingol had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 3, at 12 noon, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. with reports from Ernest Martin Tuazon
