NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after winning the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball championship.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — National University slayed the ghost of its past with a 78-73 victory over University of Santo Tomas in Game 3 to reclaim the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball title on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Last year, NU blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter as UST ended its seven-year reign in a dramatic Game 3 finish.
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The Lady Bulldogs were pushed to the same situation when the Growling Tigresses erased their 14-point lead when Tacky Tacatac hit crucial treys to turn it into a five-point game, 75-70, with still 1:45 to play.
READ: UAAP Finals: UST Tigresses fend off NU, force title decider
WATCH: NU’s crowning moment. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/RJUtKLnale
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 15, 2024
Camille Clarin, who was on the receiving end of Kent Pastrana’s championship-clinching shot last season, made sure to avoid a collapse this time, making a big steal on Karylle Sierba and sinking two big free throws for a 77-70 breather with 21.8 seconds to play.
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Sierba hit another three, 77-73, with 13.5 ticks left. But Clarin made one of two free throws before another stop against the Tigresses to claim the Season 87 crown
NU won its eighth UAAP title in nine seasons with coach Aris Dimaunahan winning his second since taking the rein two years ago from multi-titled mentor Pat Aquino.
Cielo Pagdulagan proved why she’s this season’s Rookie of the Year with 21 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three assists to earn the Finals MVP award.
Clarin delivered 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Mythical team member Angel Surada finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals, while Karl Ann Pingol had 10 points and nine rebounds.
READ: UAAP Finals: NU Lady Bulldogs survive UST in Game 1
Emotional moment for the NU Lady Bulldogs. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/odK8nfSBih
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) December 15, 2024
NU swept its way back to the finals and extended its winning run to 15 games with a 72-71 escape in Game 1 but couldn’t close out the series in Game 2, absorbing its first defeat to UST, 78-68, last Wednesday.
After a neck-and-neck first half tied with both at 38, Pagdulagan scored five of NU’s 10-0 run to pull away with a 48-38 lead with seven minutes remaining in the third period.
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Karylle Sierba and Kent Pastrana stopped the bleeding for UST to cut it down to seven, 52-47, but Pagdulagan capped their hot third quarter with five more points for a 65-50 lead heading to the fourth.
Sierba led UST with 20 points. Tacatac played her final UAAP game with 14 points. Brigette Santos, who erupted for 27 in Game 2, was limited to eight points. Eka Soriano also had eight points, while Pastrana was held to just seven points on top of seven rebounds and seven assists.
CJ Maglupay also scored seven but grabbed 23 rebounds in a losing effort for UST.
