UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas lived and extended its reign to another day after ending National University’s 15-game winning streak with 78-68 victory in the UAAP women’s basketball Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday.

It was the Lady Bulldogs’ first loss of the season, as the Tigresses raced to a 24-9 lead and this time around the defending champions were able to hold on after briefly trailed in the second half to level the best-of-three series to 1-1.

The deciding Game 3 is set at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST is aiming for back-to-back crowns while NU seeks to regain the throne it lost last season.

The Lady Bulldogs won the opener, 72-71, last Sunday as the Tigresses squandered a 14-point second half lead.

UST made sure that there will be no meltdowns.

Bridgette Santos delivered a career-best 27 points to go with four assists and two steals while rookie Karylle Sierba also had her moment, emerging when the lights are brightest in the fourth quarter.

Sierba dropped 15 of her career-high tying 18 points in the payoff period where UST quelled several NU uprisings.

“I’m very proud because it’s a team effort talaga from offense to defense. Regardless sa Game 3 sabi ko nga sa mga bata sobrang proud ako sa kanila even in the first game kahit na talo kami. Nalungkot lang kami though walang regrets talaga. Even though we’re undersized,

undermanned, no foreign student-athlete, pinakita ng mga bata na kaya namin,” said Tigresses coach Haydee Ong.

Down 9-24, the Lady Bulldogs patiently clawed back and finally took the lead at the end of the third quarter, 49-48, before Santos and Sierba happened.

“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa teammates ko at especially sa coaches namin na hindi sila nagsawang gabayan kami sa araw-araw na pagsasama namin sa training. Alam namin na binigay nila ‘yung best nila so nasa amin na ‘yung gawa. Kami ang gagawa para manalo kami,” said an emotional Santos.

“Kumpyansa lang po talaga ako kasi yung mga ate ko sobrang dinidikitan po sila so naisip ko po na hindi sila nakafocus sa akin so ‘yun na ‘yung time para maipakita ko ‘yung skills ko, na kaya ko pong makipagtapatan sa kanila,” said Sierba.

Three-time Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana added 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals for UST.

Newly-minted Rookie of the Year Cielo

Pagdulagan led NU with 16 points, nine of which came in the first half, Camille Clarin added 12 points while Karl Ann Pingol chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.

Angel Surada was the other Lady Bulldog in double digits with 10 points and had seven rebounds.

It was a double celebration for UST, as the Tiger Cubs dismantled top-ranked University of the East, 98-84, in Game 1 to move on the cusp of annexing the junior high school crown.

The scores:

UST (78) – Santos 27, Sierba 18, Pastrana 11, Bron 8, Soriano 6, Danganan 6, Maglupay 2, Tacatac 0, Ambos 0, Serrano 0.
NU (68) – Pagdulagan 16, Clarin 12, Pingol 11, Surada 10, Fabruada 5, Villanueva 5, Betanio 4, Konateh 3, Canuto 2, Cayabyab 0, Talas 0.
Quarterscores: 20-9, 32-25, 48-49, 78-68.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado