UAAP: NU holds off UST to reclaim women’s basketball title

NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after winning the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball championship.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — National University slayed the ghost of its past with a 78-73 victory over University of Santo Tomas in Game 3 to reclaim the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball title on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Last year, NU blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter as UST ended its seven-year reign in a dramatic Game 3 finish.

The Lady Bulldogs were pushed to the same situation when the Growling Tigresses erased their 14-point lead when Tacky Tacatac hit crucial treys to turn it into a five-point game, 75-70, with still 1:45 to play.

READ: UAAP Finals: UST Tigresses fend off NU, force title decider

WATCH: NU’s crowning moment. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/RJUtKLnale

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 15, 2024

Camille Clarin, who was on the receiving end of Kent Pastrana’s championship-clinching shot last season, made sure to avoid a collapse this time, making a big steal on Karylle Sierba and sinking two big free throws for a 77-70 breather with 21.8 seconds to play.

Sierba hit another three, 77-73, with 13.5 ticks left. But Clarin made one of two free throws before another stop against the Tigresses to claim the Season 87 crown.

“I am so proud to be the captain of this winning team. It just goes to show that when everyone sets aside their own agenda and puts their own ego aside, puts the we over the me, great things are gonna happen. This team has been through the gutter. The fact that everybody rose up to the challenge is just amazing. Nobody can take that away from us,” said Clarin. “These girls really showed me what it takes to fight until the end. I know I made them better and I know they made me better. I’m just so thankful that the ball fell in our court and we’re champions again.”

NU won its eighth UAAP title in nine seasons with coach Aris Dimaunahan winning his second since taking the rein two years ago from multi-titled mentor Pat Aquino.

Cielo Pagdulagan proved why she’s this season’s Rookie of the Year with 21 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three assists to earn the Finals MVP award.

Clarin delivered 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Mythical team member Angel Surada finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals, while Karl Ann Pingol had 10 points and nine rebounds.

“I’m very satisfied with how we conducted our year. These players were on it since Day 1 of our training camp. We asked so much in them at hindi mo matatawaran ‘yung effort nila everyday. They’re killing each other in practice, from first group to the third group,” said Dimaunahan. “Today is the fruit of our labor the entire year, naghintay. kami. We kept our step very cautiously. Our focus araw-araw was to get better and better.  We had our first loss of the season noong Game 2 pero hindi sila bumigay. The more they kept focused and hungrier to win.”

READ: UAAP Finals: NU Lady Bulldogs survive UST in Game 1

Emotional moment for the NU Lady Bulldogs. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/odK8nfSBih

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 15, 2024

NU swept its way back to the finals and extended its winning run to 15 games with a 72-71 escape in Game 1 but couldn’t close out the series in Game 2, absorbing its first defeat to UST, 78-68, last Wednesday.

After a neck-and-neck first half tied with both at 38, Pagdulagan scored five of NU’s 10-0 run to pull away with a 48-38 lead with seven minutes remaining in the third period.

Karylle Sierba and Kent Pastrana stopped the bleeding for UST to cut it down to seven, 52-47, but Pagdulagan capped their hot third quarter with five more points for a 65-50 lead heading to the fourth.

Sierba led UST with 20 points. Tacatac played her final UAAP game with 14 points. Brigette Santos, who erupted for 27 in Game 2, was limited to eight points. Eka Soriano also had eight points, while Pastrana was held to just seven points on top of seven rebounds and seven assists.

CJ Maglupay also scored seven but grabbed 23 rebounds in a losing effort for UST.

The Scores:

NU 78 – Pagdulagan 21, Surada 14, Clarin 14, Pingol 10, Cayabyab 5, Fabruada 4, Konateh 4, Canuto 3, Betanio 3, Villanueva 0, Bartolo 0.

UST 73 – Sierba 20, Tacatac 14, Santos 8, Soriano 8, Pastrana 7, Maglupay 7, Bron 5, Danganan 4, Ambos 0, Serrano 0.

Quarterscores: 17-17, 38-38, 65-50, 78-73.