AFTER pushing NU to its limits in Game 1, the UST Growling Tigresses finally got over the hump as they overcame the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, 78-68, to force a do-or-die Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament finals.
UST handed NU its first loss after the Lady Bulldogs completed a perfect 14-0 record in the elimination round. The Growling Tigresses had lost three times to NU this season before securing the victory.
With the game tied 57-all in the final frame, Karylle Sierba drilled a triple to ignite a 10-5 run and give UST the advantage with 3:02 minutes to go in the game, 70-62.
After Camille Clarin and Sierba exchanged triples, 73-65, Nicole Danganan stepped up and sank a dagger corner triple to extend UST’s lead to double-digits with a minute remaining, 76-65.
Clarin hit another trey, but it was already too late as UST captured the 10-point victory.
“Hindi tumigil ‘yong mga bata; naniwala sila. Same scenario with what happened in the first game, sabi namin, ‘Walang bibitaw, just keep playing hard,’ and thanks talaga sa buong team,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said postgame.
Brigette Santos erupted at the perfect moment, producing a career-high 27 points on 11-for-21 shooting (52.4%). Karylle Sierba tied her career-high with 18 points, including 15 points and three triples in the fourth quarter.
“One hell of a game by Brigette and Karylle. Salute talaga dito sa dalawang ‘to,” Ong said.
Up by two early, 5-3, the Growing Tigresses used a 15-6 run capped by a Santos triple to end the first frame ahead, 20-9.
Santos’s hot streak continued as she sank consecutive layups to open the second frame, 24-9, but NU retaliated with a 14-8 run to trim the lead to seven at halftime, 32-25.
The Lady Bulldogs gave UST a scare in the third frame, as they found life courtesy of top rookie Cielo Pagdulagan’s 3-point play that gave NU a 49-48 edge heading into the payoff period.
However, unlike Game 1, the Tigresses averted a late collapse, outscoring NU 30-19 while hitting four of their six triples for the victory.
“It’s all a team effort talaga from offense to defense. Meron kaming mga miscue sa aming defense and then we adjusted,” Ong said.
Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana, who had 22 points in Game 1, finished with 11 points and eight boards.
Pagdulagan paced NU with 16 markers, while Clarin and Ann Pingol contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The sudden-death Game 3 for the title will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 15. The Season 86 finals between UST and NU also reached a decisive Game 3, where the Tigresses clinched the championship with a 71-69 win.
