NATIONAL University gave Ria Nabalan a fitting farewell, capping off her illustrious collegiate career with another title as the Lady Bulldogs claimed the UAAP Season 81 3x3 championship with a 21-3 mauling of Adamson in the Finals on Sunday at Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig.
Just as the case in the five-a-side game, the girls from Jhocson were just on a class of their own, not giving an inch to the Lady Falcons in what was easily the most dominant performance in the two-day event.
Jack Animam pumped eight points, Rhena Itesi added six, while Monique del Carmen scored the game-winning lay-up with 26 seconds to spare as NU swept the women's division and went 9-0 in the tourney.
But it was Nabalan who had the best success story for NU, going unbeaten in her UAAP campaign as she scored six in her final game for the blue-and-gold.
"Malungkot na masaya," she admitted. "Malungkot dahil ito na yung last time na makakasama ko teammates ko at ito na yung last game ko for NU. Ito na talaga yung last. Masaya rin kasi makikipagsabayan na ako sa mundo, makakalaban ko na yung mga beterano."
The Lady Bulldogs hardly broke a sweat in the second day of competitions, demolishing UST, 19-5 in the semis.
Mar Prado got all of Adamson's three points in the runner-up finish in the championship game.
The Lady Falcons advanced to the Finals after edging UE, 14-12, in their own semis clash.
The scores:
NU 21 – Animam 8, Itesi 6, Nabalan 6, Del Carmen 1.
ADAMSON 3 – Prado 3, Bilbao 0, Dampios 0, Araja 0.
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