Not even a two-year break from competition could stop National University from annexing its seventh straight University Athletic Association of the Philippines women's basketball tournament title.
A 19-4 run to close the first quarter was all that the Lady Bulldogs needed to create enough separation on their way to cruising to a 76-64 Game 2 victory over De La Salle University to punctuate their domination of Season 85 yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

NU successfully defended its throne as the tournament made its return after a two-year hiatus by completing an emphatic sweep of the same rival that snapped its league record 108-game winning streak.

Camille Clarin knocked the dagger triple with 4:12 left in the fourth quarter before Finals Most Valuable Player Kristine Cayabyab, who was on fire the whole game after a quiet seven-point outing in Game 1 last Wednesday, and Karl Pingol scored back-to-back baskets to end all hopes of a Lady Archers fightback.

"The credit goes to all our girls. From day one they committed. I'm glad each and every one of us did our share and we won," NU coach Aris Dimaunahan said as his team tied the league's longest reign recorded by the then Robert Jaworski-led University of the East Red Warriors from 1965 to 1971.

Cayabyab scored 18 points to lead the balanced scoring assault of the Lady Bulldogs, who crushed the Lady Archers, 93-61, in the best-of-three series opener.

She also grabbed five rebounds with two assists, two steals and a block for NU.

"I think that loss against La Salle fueled our desire to win the championship. It jelled the team together," Cayabyab said.

The Lady Bulldogs broke open a slim 8-7 lead at the beginning of the match to 27-11 to end the opening period.

NU built its largest margin at 57-34 off Princess Fabruada's split from the foul line with 1:50 left in the third quarter.

Angel Surada added 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Annick Edimo Tiky and Camille Clarin scored nine and eight markers, respectively, to close the Lady Bulldogs' campaign.

Team captain Mikka Cacho played her final game for NU as she finished six points, six rebounds and four steals.

La Salle settled for a runner-up finish in its return to the championship round since losing to the same squad in 2016.

Charmaine Torres fired 29 points on an 8-of-17 scoring clip and pulled down seven rebounds for the Lady Archers, who defeated the Lady Bulldogs in overtime in the second round of eliminations which forced a Final Four for the first time since 2013.

Fina Niantcho Tchuido posted a double-double of 13 points and 22 boards with four assists, three blocks and a steal in a losing effort while Joehanna Arciga and Lee Sario had eight and seven markers, respectively, for La Salle.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas guard Eka Soriano received her Most Valuable Player trophy during the awarding ceremony before the Game 2 tipoff.

Soriano is the third straight Tigress to win the award after Grace Irebu bagged the recognition in 2018 and 2019.

The UST cager joined Ateneo de Manila University's Kacey Dela Rosa, who was named Rookie of the Year, and Jhazmin Joson, UST's Tacky Tacatac and Adamson' University center Victoria Adeshina in the Mythical Five.

The scores:
NU (76) — Cayabyab 18, Surada 10, Edimo Tiky 9, Clarin 8, Cacho 6, Pingol 6, Bartolo 5, Canuto 4, Fabruada 4, Villareal 4, Betanio 2, Solis 0, Barroquillo 0, Dimaunahan 0, Ico 0.
LA SALLE (64) — Torres 29, Niantcho 13, Arciga 8, Sario 7, Binaohan 5, De La Paz 2, Jimenez 2, Ahmed 2.
QUARTERS: 27-11, 42-27, 61-40, 76-64.