THE INAUGURAL Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) finals opened with a bang as the Pilipinas Aguilas outgunned the UST Growling Tigresses in a dramatic double overtime clash, 95-86, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
After cruising through the elimination round with just one loss, the Tigresses failed to draw first blood in the best-of-three finals on Wednesday, April 16.
UST surged to an 11-2 start after Gin Relliquette knocked down back-to-back triples. However, Aguilas responded immediately with an 8-0 blitz to keep things tight at the end of the first, 17-16.
More three pointers from co-captain Kent Pastrana and rookie hotshot Karylle Sierba kept the Tigresses afloat in the second salvo, maintaining a 36-30 advantage by halftime.
Pilipinas Aguilas took control in the third period behind an offensive barrage from Lexi Pana, 59-56.
As the game hit a 74-all deadlock in the fourth frame, Tigress star Kent Pastrana missed the potential game-winning layup, forcing both teams to play extra shifts.
With 2.7 seconds left in the first overtime, Pastrana drained a fall-away triple at the buzzer to add five more minutes, 83-all. The Tigresses, however, eventually lost momentum in the second extension as a corner three from Cheska Apag sealed the win for Aguilas.
Pilipinas Aguilas’ Mar Prado earned Player of the Game honors after a double-double performance built on 19 points and 11 rebounds. Pana and Elaine Etang scored 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Pastrana paced the Tigresses with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Eka Soriano dialled in 20 points, 5 assists and 2 steals.
The Tigresses will try to extend the series on Sunday, April 20, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. F
