THE road to the crown still goes through National U.
Displaying their championship poise, the Lady Bulldogs put the first blemish on the erstwhile perfect record of University of Santo Tomas, dealing the Growling Tigresses the 84-79 Game One decision on Saturday in the UAAP Season 88 women's basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Angel Surada put NU on her back with 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists, all while drawing the unenviable task of defending UST's Oma Onianwa.
It was a gutsy victory for the Lady Bulldogs who showed immense fortitude late by holding down the fort on defense, from Surada and Tin Cayabyab locking down Onianwa in the paint, Aloha Betanio getting a key offensive rebound off her missed free throw to give her side the 82-78 lead with a minute left, to Surada stuffing Brigette Santos' drive with 30 seconds to play.
Marga Villanueva also buried two big treys in the payoff period, as she shot 4-of-14 from downtown for her 17 points and six boards.
Cayabyab added 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds, Bonnie Solis had 11 points and a pair of boards and assists, and Xyza Pring got nine points, three rebounds, and two dimes in the win.
"We feel relieved because during the eliminations, we got swept. Finally, we're able to get a win against them and what a time to get it than in the finals," said coach DA Olan.
NU took a page out of UST's playbook, shooting 8-of-31 from downtown, while also drawing 47 bench points.
That also couldn't have come at a better time with presumptive Season MVP Karl Ann Pingol fouling out with 2:01 to play and only tallying three points, three assists, and two boards in the triumph.
NU solves UST riddle
The Lady Bulldogs now try to complete the sweep on Wednesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena where they gun for back-to-back crowns and their ninth in 10 seasons.
UST got its dream of perfection ruined, as it suffered its first loss after going on a 14-0 elimination stretch to book this outright finals berth.
Eka Soriano paced the Growling Tigresses with 20 points and five rebounds, while Kent Pastrana's near-triple-double effort of 15 points, 10 boards, eight assists, and three steals went up in smokes.
The Scores:
NU 84 – Surada 19, Villanueva 17, Cayabyab 11, Solis 11, Pring 9, D. Medina 6, Betanio 4, Pingol 3, Garcia 2, Alterado 2, Canindo 0.
UST 79 – Soriano 20, Pastrana 15, Sierba 14, Santos 11, Onianwa 10, Ambos 5, C. Danganan 4, Maglupay 0, Pineda 0, Pescador 0, Bron 0, Relliquette 0.
Quarters: 16-13, 42-35, 61-60, 84-79.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
