The road to glory for the National University Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament began long before the competition even tipped off.
The local powerhouse showcased its dominance early, completing an undefeated championship run in the Manila Live Girls Under-19 Championships powered by the Smart-National Basketball Training Center.
Their campaign was capped by a thrilling 78-73 winner-take-all victory over the highly touted Fil-Am Nation Select Girls 1 squad on March 24, 2024.
Just two months later, NUNS continued its winning ways, capturing the inaugural UAAP Season 86 Girls’ 3×3 title after outlasting rival University of Santo Tomas in a dramatic final on May 5, 2024.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Riding the momentum from these triumphs, the Lady Bullpups immediately made their presence felt in their maiden UAAP 5-on-5 appearance in Season 87.
Led by Gilas Youth guard Aubrey Lapasaran, MVP frontrunner Zaydhen Rosano, and rising star Ashlyn Abong, NUNS cruised through the eliminations with a 4-1 record.
They capped off their run with a commanding 141-40 victory over Ateneo de Manila University on Thursday morning, securing a Finals showdown against undefeated University of Santo Tomas.
For Lapasaran, the heartbreak of the 2023 NBTC Tournament, combined with their recent success, has fueled her motivation to continue NUNS’ growing dynasty in girls’ basketball.
While their titles in the 2024 NBTC and UAAP 3×3 tournaments are significant achievements, the Cebuana guard remains determined to lead NUNS to its first UAAP 5-on-5 championship — especially as a fitting sendoff for their graduating teammates.
“Sobra rin kasi noong last NBTC noong 2023, natalo kami, sobrang sakit sa feeling niyan. Simula noon, ayaw ko na ma-feel yung talo na ‘yon,” said the 18-year-old Lapasaran, who delivered a stellar all-around performance with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six assists, five steals, and four rebounds.
“Gusto namin na kami yung unang makakakuha ng girls’ championship lalo’t na last year ng ibang teammates ko. Gusto ko matulungan din sila at makuha at ma-feel nila yung pagkachampion.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Beyond continuing the Lady Bullpups’ dominance, head coach Camilla Escoto has set her sights on replicating the success of NU’s women’s basketball program — a powerhouse that has claimed eight of the last nine UAAP titles.
Last semester, the NU Lady Bulldogs erased the heartbreak of 2023 and Season 86, reclaiming the Season 87 crown after a grueling three-game Finals series against the UST Growling Tigresses.
More than just winning titles, Escoto — a former Lady Bulldog herself — hopes to instill the same championship poise and pedigree that NU women’s basketball legends like Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, Ann Pingol, and Tin Cayabyab have exemplified.
“We’re very eager to translate that success dito sa UAAP. More than that sa NBTC championship, we’re much more eager to replicate yung championship ng women’s counterpart namin. They’ve been supporting us ever since from the beginning. Even sa practices, they’ve been with us — sila yung kasama namin sa practice every day,” Escoto shared.
“More than sa NBTC, I am more focused na mareplicate namin yung success ng women’s sa UAAP.”
Now, with history within reach, the Lady Bullpups are determined to make their mark and claim their rightful place atop UAAP girls’ basketball.
