On Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, University of Santo Tomas’ quest to defend its title was on the brink of ending.
Game 1 slipped away from the Growling Tigers, 71-72, after Cielo Pagdulangan nailed the game-winning layup for the dynastic National University.
With the title on the line in Game 2, Brigette Santos answered coach Haydee Ong’s call to step up.
With main stars Kent Pastrana and Tacky Tacatac struggling to break through the Lady Bulldogs’ defense, Santos kept the Tigresses’ offense alive.
She scored a career-high 27 points on 52% shooting to seal the 78-68 victory.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The third-year guard tormented NU’s defenders all afternoon, getting to the paint at will and finishing over taller defenders with ease.
Santos was overwhelmed with emotion in the post-game press conference, immediately expressing her gratitude to Coach Ong for placing her trust in her all year long.
“Dinedicate ko lang po talaga yung paglalaro ko, lalo na ngayon sa championship, kay Coach Haydee. Kasi siya po talaga naniwala po talaga sa akin na kaya ko. Kaya kong gawin,” shared the UST high school product.
Santos explained that her career performance was the result of countless hours of tough love from Ong during practice, who relentlessly pushed her to become the best version of herself on the court.
“Every training kasi naiiyak na ako kasi si Coach Haydee lagi ako pinapagalitan. Bakit ba lagi ako pinapagalitan ni Coach? Sinasabi niya sakin na, ‘Wala ka nanaman sa focus!’ Pag ganon naiiyak na ako kasi nasa focus naman ako,” said Santos with a laugh.
“Doon ko nahugot yung lakas ng loob ko na makipagsabayan sa kanila, kasi nga si Coach hindi talaga siya tumigil magtiwala sa akin. Ako na lang yung hinihintay nila eh – ito sa tingin ko, ito na yung chance ko na maka-contribute talaga.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Coach Ong explained that her persistence in pushing Santos during training stems from her belief that Santos still had untapped potential in her game.
“Very happy ako kasi sabi ko nga sa kanya, throughout the season, hindi ko pa nakikita yung full potential niya talaga. Brigette came in sa akin, alam ko she’s very athletic. Mataas tumalon, may three points, parang kumpleto talaga,” said the championship-winning coach.
The only tool Santos seemed to lack was self-confidence, and Ong made it her mission to help her tap into that potential.
By Wednesday afternoon, that potential was on full display.
“Parang nahihiya ‘pag naglalaro, but today pinakita niya sa akin na ‘Coach, tama yung sinasabi mo na unstoppable ako ngayon.’”
With Santos hitting her stride, Pastrana and Tacatac looking to regain their form.
And Ong leading the charge, UST is primed for Game 3, aiming to bring a second crown back to España.
