THEIR RIVALS may have given them the scare during the start of the finals, but the UST Growling Tigresses managed to achieve the perfect ending to a dominant UAAP Season 88 as they reclaimed the women’s basketball crown.
The Tigresses, which went unbeaten in the elimination round, triumphed in their trilogy against the NU Lady Bulldogs, 79-64, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With the victory, UST claimed its second UAAP crown in three years and the program’s 13th title overall.
“We played with heart and pride today,” Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong said postgame.
“Even when we were down during the first quarter the girls didn’t give in,” she added.
In her last game wearing the gold-and-black, Tigress star Kent Pastrana finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Pastrana earned Finals MVP honors for her efforts in the team’s third straight finals appearance.
After going down by as much as 10 points in the second quarter, back-to-back triples from Kent Pastrana and Karylle Sierba lit up a huge 17-1 run for UST to take a 37-30 lead at halftime.
Graduating Tigress Eka Soriano continued to turn it up in the third quarter, nailing seven markers to push UST’s lead to 19 points, 71-53.
NU’s rally in the final period proved too little too late as UST managed to hold on and ultimately take the championship, 79-64.
UST foreign student-athlete Oma Onianwa contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Soriano, Karylle Sierba and CJ Maglupay notched 10 markers each.
Kristine Cayabyab led the Lady Bulldogs, pouring in 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting along with six boards.
The Tigresses’ immaculate season record was blemished when the Lady Bulldogs drew first blood in Game 1 of the finals, 84-79, last Dec.6. Not allowing their efforts to be squandered, the España squad forced a do-or-die match through a convincing 90-75 victory in Game 2 on Dec. 10.
The Tigresses will be bidding adieu to the services of Pastrana and Soriano as both are set to graduate this school year
“They’re my cornerstone on my team. Without them I think I would have a hard time winning another championship,” Ong said, giving flowers to Pastrana and Soriano. F
