Adamson University escaped University of Santo Tomas, 79-74, to force a winner-take-all Game Three in the UAAP Season 82 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament, Monday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Up 74-64 with 4:03 left in the game, the Lady Baby Falcons could not contain the Junior Growling Tigresses.
Behind Nicole Dagangan and Bridgette Santos, UST went on a 10-3 surge to cut the lead to just three with exactly a minute remaining in the contest.
That was the closest UST could get to clinching the crown in the contest, though. Bridgette and Claudine Santos had sorry misses, while free throws by Joan Camagong with 11 seconds left gave Adamson another shot at glory.
“Lesson we learned sa first game — control our emotions. Kasi from that kind of attitude na ginawa namin sa ang pangit ng kinalabasan,” Adamson head coach Ewon Arayi recalled about their 68-73 Game One loss last Friday — their first loss this season after a six-game sweep of the elimination round.
“Players are complaining. Coaches are complaining. So walang composure. This time, sabi ko sa mga bata, ‘Please control your emotions’,” the women’s basketball legend continued.
The winner-take-all bout is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 13 at the same venue.
Camagong, a member of the Mythical Team, led Adamson with 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 37 minutes of action.
Fellow Mythical Team member Kat Agojo and Abegail Amdad both had identical lines of 12 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, reigning MVP Cris Padilla was limited to just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Nicole Dagangan had 23 points, seven assists, and six rebounds for UST. Twin sister Erika added 17 points and 10 boards.
The Scores:
ADU 79 – Camagong 29, Agojo 12, Amdad 12, Carcallas 10, Padilla 10, Miguel 6, Roy 0.
UST 74 – Danganan N. 23, Danganan E. 17, Santos B. 12, Santos C. 9, Sison 6, Araza 3, Estudillo 2, Serrano 2.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 52-44, 66-55, 79-74.
