THE UST Growling Tigresses fell short of capturing the inaugural Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) title as they crumbled against Aguilas Pilipinas 54-45 in a low-scoring winner-take-all Game 3 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, April 23.
Scoring declined each game of the series — UST dropped Game 1 in a double-overtime thriller, 95-86, bounced back in Game 2, 69-64, then failed to reach 50 points in Game 3, where both teams combined for just 99 points.
WMPBL Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana paced the Tigresses with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
“Personally, marami akong lapses sa game na ‘to,” Pastrana told the Varsitarian. “As a team, kailangan namin i-work ‘yong defense namin and ‘yong strengths din namin sa offense.”
UST got off to a scorching start, holding the Aguilas to only three points in the first quarter, 14-3.
The Aguilas rallied at the start of the second quarter and tied the game at 16-all after three consecutive 3-pointers. They entered halftime with a 28-26 lead.
With Aguilas leading 37-29 midway through the third frame, the Tigresses staged a 12-4 run to tie the game before the payoff period, 41-all.
Alexis Pana and Nathalia Prado then led the Aguilas in outscoring UST, 13-4, in the fourth quarter to clinch the league’s inaugural championship, 54-45.
The Aguilas tallied 17 steals and scored 17 points on UST’s 27 turnovers.
Karylle Sierba, Rachelle Ambos, and Agatha Bron tallied eight markers apiece.
Prado led the Aguilas with a double-double of 16 points and 12 boards, while Pana and Cheska Apag chipped in 13 points apiece.
Pastrana hopes the loss will fuel UST heading into the upcoming UAAP Season 87 women’s 3×3 basketball tournament.
“Kailangan namin mag move-on sa pagkatalo na ‘to pero kailangan madami rin kaming natutunan para i-apply sa 3×3 and sa upcoming UAAP season,” she said.
