Scarred for the first time this season in Game 1 of the Finals, which put them on the brink of heartbreak, University of Santo Tomas (UST) showed that the Tigresses only grow fiercer when hurt.

UST bounced back from a shaky start to dethrone National University (NU) in the winner-take-all Game 3, 79-64, capturing the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s Basketball championship in front of a lively Sunday crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Growling Tigresses reclaimed the crown they lost to the Lady Bulldogs last year, securing their second title in three seasons and sending off graduating seniors Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano as queens of UAAP basketball.

This marks UST’s 13th championship, further cementing its status as the winningest program in the women’s division.

In Game 1, NU stunned UST, which had swept the elimination round, with an 84-79 win. But the Tigresses roared back in Game 2, 95-70, to even the series.

“Of course, Kent andEka are my cornerstones. Without them, it will be hard to get another championship. We played for each other, we played with heart and pride together. Down in the second quarter, they refused to lose,” said Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong.

UST struggled offensively in the first quarter, making just four of 29 attempts as NU pulled ahead, 17-11.

But Pastrana, Karylle Sierba and CJ Maglupay led the Tigresses’ fightback in the second quarter, turning the game around and taking a 37-30 halftime lead.

In the third, the floodgates opened as Soriano, Coi Danganan, and the rest of UST combined for 34 points to extend their lead to 71-53 heading into the fourth.

“We are very happy because our sacrifices have paid off. I am overwhelmed because it was never my goal to win the Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. My only goal was to win a championship. I will miss my teammates and will miss the competitions in the UAAP,” said Pastrana.

Pastrana, a four-time Elite Team member, capped her UAAP career with Finals averages of 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.8 steals.

In the winner-take-all game, she led UST with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and one block, finishing with a plus-22 rating in 25 minutes and 55 seconds on the court.

Nigerian center Oma Onianwa contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal, while Season 85 MVP Eka Soriano recorded 10 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

Sierba added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Maglupay finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

For NU, Tin Cayabyab led with 21 points and six rebounds, while Aloha Betanio posted 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.