Tigresses, Pilipainas Aguilas dispute historic WMPBL crown

The stage is set as University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Pilipinas Aguilas collide for all the marbles in Game 3 of the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational Tournament best-of-three finals series tonight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Game time is at 6 p.m. with the Growling Tigresses determined to essay a fitting follow-up to their 69-64 triumph in Game 2 that put them a win closer from the inaugural title of this prestigious women’s inter-club league.

But standing in their way to the historic crown is the Pilipinas Aguilas, which is also determined to rule the tournament.

Growling Tigresses head coach Ged Austria is focusing on limiting their mistakes and maintaining discipline on both ends of the floor, knowing that every possession counts in their pursuit of the inaugural championship.

“Can’t disclose the details on the technical side, of course. But we need to correct our previous mistakes,” Austria said.

Aguilas star Alexis Pana, who filled the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a block in their Game 2 loss, is focused on the same goal of minimizing mistakes and elevating her team’s performance in the winner-take-all Game 3.

“I don’t wanna talk about that. I just want to play our game and just focus on the things that we need to correct and all that stuff,” the Filipino-American Pana said.

Both teams are primed to give it their all in this winner-take-all showdown, with everything on the line and no room for error as the WMPBL finals culminate in its decisive Game 3.

Game 2 heroes Oma Onianwa and Rachelle Ambos, who scored 17 and 14 points, respectively, in the win after underperforming in the series opener, are expected to step up once again and support Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano in the decider for UST.

Meanwhile, Pana will take charge of Pilipinas Aguilas, with Mar Prado, Elaine Etang and Chack Cabinbin backing her up, as they look to bounce back in the series and secure the title in Game 3.