THE UST Growling Tigers dropped Game 1 of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) finals, falling to the Pilipinas Aguilas, 95-86, in a double-overtime thriller at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, April 16.
UST couldn’t overcome their familiar rivals, as the Aguilas once again proved to be a stumbling block. The pro squad had also handed the Tigresses their only loss in the elimination round and took control late to claim Game 1 of the Finals.
Mar Prado and Alexis Pana led the Aguilas with 19 points apiece. Prado added 12 rebounds and four assists, while Pana contributed eight boards and six assists. Elaine Etang followed with 16 points, three rebounds, and four assists.
The Tigresses and Aguilas traded baskets early in the first quarter, highlighted by back-to-back 3s from Etang and UST’s Gin Relliquette. UST held a narrow 17-16 lead after the opening frame.
Veteran Tigress Eka Soriano sparked a 9-7 run to close the quarter, helping UST maintain a 26-23 advantage.
In the second quarter, UST tried to pull away, building a six-point lead after a fadeaway by CJ Maglupay, 36-30. But the Aguilas, led by Prado, trimmed the deficit to two heading into halftime, 38-36.
Momentum shifted in the third, as Pastrana tied the game at 46-all before Chack Cabinbin’s euro step ignited a 13-4 run that put UST in a 59–50 hole. Soriano later narrowed the gap to three after splitting her free throws, 59–56.
The Aguilas held the lead for most of the fourth quarter, but with 36 seconds left, Relliquette nailed a go-ahead 3 to give UST a 74–72 edge. Etang responded with two clutch free throws to send the game to overtime.
In the first OT, with the score tied at 80, Etang hit a potential game-winner with seven seconds left. But Kent Pastrana answered with a triple from halfcourt to force a second overtime, 83-83.
In the second OT, the Aguilas limited UST to just three points, closing the game on a 12–3 run punctuated by a dagger 3 from Cheska Apag, sealing the 95–86 win.
Pastrana led UST with 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Soriano added 20 points and five dimes, while Relliquette chipped in 17 points, six rebounds, and four steals.
The Growling Tigresses will try to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday, April 20, at 6 p.m., at the same venue.
