Defending champion National University (NU) displayed its championship composure in the clutch, rallying from a six-point deficit to edge third-ranked Ateneo de Manila University, 67-66, and secure a spot in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 women’s basketball tournament finals yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs, the second seed in the stepladder playoffs with a 12-2 record, advanced to the finals for the 11th consecutive season. They will once again face the still-unbeaten University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the best-of-three championship series starting 6 December also at the Big Dome.

It will be a trilogy of sorts for UST and NU, with the Growling Tigresses having ended the Lady Bulldogs’ seven-year reign in Season 86 before reclaiming the championship in Season 87. UST secured an outright finals berth after completing a sweep of the 14-game elimination round.

“Speechless. Although we didn’t play well in this game, our players didn’t quit,” NU coach DA Olan said.

“They didn’t quit until the end even if things were not going our way. They really wanted to win, which is something I couldn’t teach. They didn’t quit until the final buzzer.”

The Blue Eagles looked poised to reach the finals for the first time since Season 78 in 2015, as three consecutive triples by Camille Malagar and Hannah Lopez gave Ateneo an eight-point, 65-57 lead with 4:09 remaining.

However, the Lady Bulldogs methodically fought back, executing a pivotal 9-1 run capped by three consecutive inside finishes from presumptive Most Valuable Player Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab and Marga Villanueva to tie the game at 66-all with 64 seconds left.

After consecutive misses by Kacey dela Rosa, the game seemed destined for overtime — until a dramatic finish unfolded in the final two seconds.

With Pingol missing a potential game-winning triple, Angel Surada boxed out and drew a foul on Nigerian center Sarah Makanjoula during her putback attempt, earning a trip to the free throw line with 0.6 seconds remaining.

Surada missed her first attempt but, determined not to let her tenure with the Lady Bulldogs end prematurely, drained the go-ahead free throw to seal the hard-fought victory.

Villanueva fired 16 points, including four triples, alongside three rebounds, two steals and one block while Cayabyab added 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal and Pingol contributed 10 points, six rebounds, five steals and one assist for the Lady Bulldogs.

Aloha Betanio had a quiet 4-point outing on 2-of-7 shooting but added eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.