The timing couldn’t have been better for UST guard Brigette Santos to record her career-high in scoring in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 finals, powering the Growling Tigresses past NU and forcing a do-or-die match for the championship.
Santos recorded a career-high 27 points on an efficient 11-for-21 shooting (52.4%).
The career game didn’t come as a surprise to UST head coach Haydee Ong, who knew Santos, a UST high school product, had the potential to explode anytime.
“Very happy ako kasi throughout the season, hindi ko pa nakikita ‘yong full potential niya talaga. Brigette came in sa akin, alam ko she’s very athletic, mataas tumalon, may (shooting), parang kumpleto talaga e,” Ong said.
“Kumbaga parang nahihiya kapag naglalaro. But today, pinakita niya sa akin na ‘Coach, tama ‘yong sinasabi mo na unstoppable ako ngayon,’” she added.
Santos is averaging 19.5 points per game in the finals so far, already eclipsing and even tripling her Season 86 finals scoring average of 7.33 points per game.
The former UAAP juniors Mythical Five member credited the Tigresses’ intense training sessions for toughening her up in preparation for the crucial Game 2.
“Every training kasi naiiyak na ‘ko kasi si coach Haydee, lagi akong pinapagalitan. Sinasabi sa’kin, ‘Onse! Wala ka na naman sa focus.’ Kapag ganoon, naiiyak ako kasi nasa focus naman ako,” Santos said.
“Doon ko nahugot ‘yong lakas ng loob ko na makipag sabayan sa kanila kasi nga sila coach hindi talaga sila tumigil na maniwala sa akin.”
In the elimination round, Santos averaged 7.57 points per game along with 3.79 rebounds and 2.93 assists and was one of only two Growling Tigresses to have started in 13 games, alongside Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana.
As the Tigresses prepare for Game 3, which will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 15, Santos said she is keen on leveraging the opportunity to perform for the Tigresses this finals.
“Ako na lang ‘yong hinihintay nila e,” she said. “So ito, sa tingin ko, ito na ‘yong chance ko na maka-contribute talaga.” with reports from Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
