This game is bigger than us. We know we have another game to accomplish.
KELLI Hayes and the NU Lady Bulldogs shoot for a sweep of the UAAP women’s basketball tourney. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd
National University (NU) tries to capture its sixth straight crown when it battles University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Game 2 of their Season 82 University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament best-of-three finals today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs and the Growling Tigresses face off at 12 noon with the former gunning for another sweet sweep and extend their unbelievable winning streak to 96 games.
NU took Game 1, 70-65, last Wednesday despite missing the services of Jack Animam, who sustained an eye injury during the Philippine team’s game against Korea in the pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Animam will continue to sit out as she’s still in New Zealand recuperating from her injury.
“The girls did their parts and, hopefully, with one more game on Saturday, we’ll get that sixth championship,” said Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Pat Aquino after their Game 1 triumph.
“It’s not just about filling the shoes of Jack, everyone really did their part,” he added.
Without the services of the 6-foot-5 slotman Animam, Rhena Itesi, Kelli Hayes, Kaye Pingol and Mikka Cacho stepped up for NU against the pesky UST five of coach Heidi Ong.
Itesi and Hayes combined for 33 points while the Congolese 6-foot-4 center added 13 rebounds and two blocks to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
Pingol, on the other hand, chipped in 12 markers on top of six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Meanwhile, Cacho provided the spark off the bench with 11 points, six boards and two dimes.
“It’s exciting to see everyone step up like what coach Pat said. We played for Jack, we played for NU and we played for the NU community,” said Hayes, a former NCAA Division 1 dribbler before taking her act in the prestigious UAAP.
“This game is bigger than us. We know we have another game to accomplish,” she added.
But the multi-titled Aquino warns his wards not to be complacent as the job is far from being done.
“Regardless if Jack being here or not, it’s still NU basketball. NU is better than just one person on the team,” Hayes said.
