Lady Bulldogs pull off perfect season anew; Bernardino Finals MVP

Make it 32 straight.

National University pulled off another perfect season after clobbering Ateneo, 75-55, Sunday to bag its second straight title in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament at Blue Eagle Gym.

Despite playing in its opponents’ home turf, NU easily dispatched Ateneo with a 19-6 run in the second quarter and coasted up to the final buzzer.

Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Afril Bernardino showed why she is the best player on the court, leading her squad with 18 points and 17 rebounds and was named Finals MVP.

Andrea Tongco added 17 markers, Rinna Itesi got 13 points, and Shelley Gupilan had 11 for NU, which stretched its winning streak to 32 games, the second longest active run in the UAAP, behind Adamson’s amazing 62 straight wins in softball.

Jolina Go paced Ateneo with 19 points while Danica Jose had a double-double with 12 markers and 10 rebounds in the defeat.

It was still a valiant run for the fourth-seeded Lady Eagles who had to survive five do-or-die games to make the finals.

The scores:

NU 75 – Bernardino 18, Tongco 17, Itesi 13, Gupilan 11, Abriam 6, Paig 3, Animam 2, Miranda 2, Del Carmen 2, Reyes 1, Antiquera 0, Sison 0, Nabalan 0, Harada 0, Layug 0, Riel 0.

Ateneo 55 – Go 19, Jose 12, Guytingco 9, Javier 4, Yam 3, Aseron 3, Buendia 2, Lamar 2, Nitorreda 1, Tomita 0, Deacon 0, Moslares 0, Newsome 0, Veloso 0.

Quarters: 10-6, 40-21, 60-34, 75-55.