NU’s Angel Surada.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — National University kept its “eight-peat” bid alive as it denied University of Santo Tomas’ late run for a 72-70 victory in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs made the crucial defensive stops as Maymay Canuto tapped the ball from Kent Pastrana, who attempted a game-equalizing layup, to keep the ball to NU ahead, 72-70, with 17.4 seconds remaining.
NU was able to waste some time before Camille Clarin was sent to the free-throw line but she missed both, leaving the window open for UST with 11.5 seconds left. Fortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, Stef Berberabe provided good defense on Pastrana’s potential game-tying jumper.
The Lady Bulldogs gun for their eighth straight championship in a do-or-die Game 3 on Wednesday afternoon at the Big Dome.
“We’re still alive. We always set a modest goal for our team every time we step on the court. Today’s mindset was to stay alive, we stayed in the present, we didn’t think of Game 1 and didn’t even think of Game 3, our main focus was Game 2 only, not even thinking about the result of this game,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan. “Our focus mainly was yung bits and pieces needed to be done in order to get the results that we want.”
Camille Clarin.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Clarin led NU with 18 points to go with eight assists and two rebounds. Karl Pingol chipped in 14 points and five rebounds, while Princess Fabruada had 13 points and four rebounds.
Angel Surada finished with eight points including a clutch jumper that gave NU a 72-68 with a minute left. She also grabbed 10 rebounds, as Berberabe had five points, 10 rebounds, and three steals.
“I’m proud of the ladies for doing a great job today, turning the tide around, playing for each other without quitting,” said Dimaunahan. “Although they took an early lead, nobody crumbled. That was to show our character. We wanted to live and fight another day. It’s even, we’ll review the tape again and we’ll see where we can improve some more coming into the next game.”
After absorbing its first loss to UST in 11 years with a 76-72 loss in Game 1, NU bounced back and forced 24 turnovers, where it scored 19 points off it.
The Lady Bulldogs averted a slow start as they gained momentum after a 10-0 midway through the third capped by Marylene Solis’ basket for a 54-50 lead. NU was leading 70-64 with 2:40 remaining after Pingol scored off a postmove but Tantoy Ferrer kept UST afloat with four straight points to cut it down to two, 70-68, before Surada’s jumper stopped the bleeding.
Ferrer and Pastrana led the way with 15 points each. Rocel Dionisio also had 15 and grabbed eight rebounds, while Tacky Tacatac added 12 points.
The scores:
NU (72) – Clarin 18, Pingol 14, Fabruada 13, Surada 8, Berberabe 5, Solis 5, Canuto 4, Betanio 3, Cayabyab 2, Konateh 0, Bartolo 0.
UST (70) – Pastrana 15, Ferrer 15, Dionisio 15, Tacatac 12, Santos 4, Soriano 3, Bron 3, Maglupay 2, Villasin 1, Ly 0, Ambos 0.
Quarterscores: 21-26, 40-43, 59-57, 72-70