PATRICK Aquino and National University reign the UAAP once more. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd

National University’s (NU) unbelievable unbeaten streak continued after dispatching University of Santo Tomas (UST), 66-54, in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals yesterday and swept its way to the crown anew in Season 82 University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It was the Lady Bulldogs’ 96th straight win to complete another perfect campaign en route to their sixth straight UAAP crown.

And they pulled it off even without their main gunner Jack Animam, who sustained an eye injury during the national team’s’ match against South Korea in the International Basketball Federation Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament last Saturday in New Zealand.

Monique del Carmen, Kaye Pingol and Rhena Itesi came up big for NU, which came out with a better performance yesterday unlike in its shaky 70-65 win in Game 1.

Del Carmen paced the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points, four assists and two steals, enough to bring home the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy.

Pingol, who suffred a minor shoulder injury during the third quarter, poured in 15 markers, five boards and two assists.

Itesi chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“I am overwhelmed with joy. I did not expect that we will be having this run — six titles in six years, without any loss,” NU head coach Pat Aquino said.

The Tigresses managed to stay within striking distance at the end of third period, 38-46, but the Lady Bulldogs unleashed a 15-0 burst to pull away from a tight game, 61-38, with 5:19 remaining

Back-to-back season MVP Grace Irebu tried to rally UST but NU was simply too composed to take home the title anew for the sixth straight time.

Del Carmer said the Lady Bulldogs can carry on with their unblemished run even if many of them are graduating after this season.

“I have no doubt that the players that we are leaving behind will continue what the program has started,” said Del Carmen, one of the six Lady Bulldogs leaving that included Pingol, Itesi, Animam, Sam Harada and former NCAA Division I player Kelli Hayes.

“NU is not Jack, Kelli or Rhena. NU is Lady Bulldogs. NU is NU,” she added.

Del Carmen normed finals averages of 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals.

“We are successful for the past years maybe because we are solid. We communicate a lot and we have discipline on and off the court,” Pingol said.

The Tigresses were led by Reynalyn Ferrer, who tallied 16 points, six rebounds and three steals while Irebu finished with 11 markers, 10 boards and five blocks.