Lady Bulldogs regain UAAP title

National University (NU) found redemption after a year of wait with a sweet payback over dethroned University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a wild finale of a best-of-three championship series that was nothing short of thrilling from start to finish.

The Lady Bulldogs weathered a fourth quarter storm mounted by the Growling Tigresses and engineered a 78-73 escape in Game 3 to reclaim the throne in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s basketball tournament Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

NU copped its eighth title overall, ascending back to the pinnacle of greatness after a spoiled eight-peat last season against the same feisty rivals.

“First of all, 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 and appreciate their effort every day. They’re killing each other in practice, from first group to the third group. The competition during practice had always been high,” Lady Bulldogs coach Aris Dimaunahan said.

“I’m really satisfied. Today is the fruit of our labor the entire year,” he added.

NU recovered from a Game 2 beating — the only blemish in the Lady Bulldogs’ near perfect campaign.

“We had our first loss of the season in Game 2 but it didn’t break them. The more they kept focused and hungrier to win. I’m really satisfied with how they conducted themselves,” Dimaunahan said.

Finals Most Valuable Player Cielo Pagdulagan displayed maturity beyond her year as the Rookie of the Year neared a double-double of 21 points with half coming off 10-of-13 free throw shooting and nine rebounds to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

NU got a scare after seeing its 15-point lead dwindle into five, 75-70, with 1:45 left after UST blasted a telling 13-3 run sealed by a Tacky Tacatac triple.

Outgoing senior Camille Clarin had a defensive to halt the Tigresses run, stealing the ball away from Karylle Sierba before sinking a pair of charities with 21.8 seconds left to give NU a three-possession lead.

Sierba nailed a trey on the other end with 13.5 ticks before Clarin split her charities with 8.4 seconds left. Angel Surada then snatched the ball from Eka Soriano on the Tigresses’ last play as the Lady Bulldogs stormed inside the court in celebration.

Graduating player Surada finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, Clarin, who will forego her last playing eligibility, added 14 points while Karl Pingo posted 10 points and nine rebounds for NU.

The Lady Bulldogs pulled away in the third period, outscoring the Tigresses, 27-12, after a tight first half knotted at 38 at the break.

Sierba led UST with 20 points, Tacatac got 14 while Soriano and Brigette Santos scored eight each. Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana was limited to seven points.