NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate UAAP Seasosn 84 3×3 title. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — National University captured its third consecutive championship in the UAAP 3×3 women’s basketball tournament on Friday at CaSoBe Resort in Calatagan, Batangas.
In their first tournament without multi-titled coach Pat Aquino, the Lady Bulldogs remained formidable and accomplished another perfect UAAP 3×3 title run with a 21-18 victory over University of Santo Tomas in the winner-take-all final.
Camille Clarin unloaded eight points, shooting 2-of-6 from deep, in the final as NU extended its win streak to 20 games in the tourney.
She also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists, as Kristine Cayabyab chipped in six points and seven boards, while Ann Pingol and Angelica Surada added four and three markers, respectively.
Cayabyab delivered the championship-clinching putback off Clarin’s miss to finish off UST with 59.8 seconds left.
“That was my shot. In my mind and my heart, I made sure not to get tired whatever happens. I offer my last shot to my teammates because we really deserved this (championship),” said Cayabyab in Filipino.
Jovylyn Pangilinan carried UST, scoring 14 of her team’s 18 points. Her teammate, Tantoy Ferrer hurt her left knee in their semis matchup against University of the Philippines. She tried to play in the Final but limped throughout her 56 seconds on the floor against NU.
NU staved off the gallant stand of the fourth seed Ateneo, 21-20.
When the Blue Eagles Jhazmin Joson’s two-pointer and a layup by Gemina Miranda tied the game at 20, Surada came to the rescue for the Lady Bulldogs with a game-winning lay-up with four seconds left.
Cayabyab had 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a block in the semis.
UST entered the Final after ousting the third-ranked University of the Philippines in the semis, 21-11, earlier.
The Scores:
Semifinals 1 vs 4
NU 21 – Cayabyab 10, Clarin 6, Surada 3, Pingol 2.
Ateneo 20 – Joson 11, Miranda 6, Villacruz 2, Nieves 1.
Time: Surada (9:56)
Semifinals 2 vs 3
UST 21 – Pangilinan 7, Soriano 7, Bron 4, Ferrer 3.
UP 11 – Bariquit 5, Maw 3, Larrosa 2, Domingo 1.
Time: Soriano 2 (8:09)
Final
NU 21 – Clarin 8, Cayabyab 6, Pingol 4, Surada 3.
UST 18 – Pangilinan 14, Soriano 3, Bron 1, Ferrer 0.
Time: Cayabyab (8:59)