University of Santo Tomas’ championship campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament faced a significant challenge as head coach Sen Dysangco was unavailable for Game 1 of the Finals, serving a one-game suspension for violating the league’s cooling-off period policy.
Dysangco has played a pivotal role in both the women’s basketball program and the Junior Growling Tigresses, guiding UST to an unbeaten run in the preliminaries and carrying strong momentum into the Finals.
With the Chiang Kai Shek alum absent, one major question emerged — who would step up in Dysangco’s absence against the formidable National University Nazareth School coaching staff, led by head coach Camilla Escoto and Lady Bulldogs chief tactician Aris Dimaunahan?
UST turned to assistant coach Allana Lim, who has been part of Haydee Ong’s staff for both the Junior Growling Tigresses and the women’s squad as a skills coach.
In her unexpected UAAP head coaching debut — and in a championship showdown at that — Lim and UST rose to the challenge.
The team delivered a dominant 85-57 victory to move within one win of claiming the Season 87 Girls’ Basketball title on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Isang malaking kawalan yun na wala si Coach Sen, pero sa mga bata added motivation yun for them na maglaro. Since talagang preparado naman na talaga yung mga players namin. Siyempre nandito naman si, yung consultant namin na si Coach Haidee and the rest of the coaching staff na nasa UST,” Lim told Tiebreaker Times.
“Yung sinabi nga ni Coach Sen sa’amin, two days before the laro ngayon, tinanong niya yung mga girls namin, ‘Girls, ilan bang points yung nagawa ko? Ilang rebounds ba nabigay ko? Wala, diba? Kayo naman ang maglalaro eh. Na-prepare na namin kayo sa magiging laban natin, so wag niyong isipin na wala ako sa game.’
She added, “Kasi na-handa naman na niya yung mga bata, na-prepara ng maayos. Hindi lang isang beses sa isang araw nagpa-practice yung mga players namin kundi twice, thrice — morning, tanghali, gabi. So yun, talagang preparado na yung mga players namin with or without the coaches.”
Echoing Lim’s sentiments was presumptive MVP Barby Dajao, who displayed remarkable poise and leadership in Dysangco’s absence.
The 18-year-old guard delivered an outstanding performance, tallying 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and five steals to lead the Junior Growling Tigresses.
With the win, UST moved closer to claiming their first official title after sharing the Season 82 crown with Adamson University.
“Kahit wala naman si Coach Sen, alam naman namin sa sarili namin na prepared kami — prepared kaming lahat ng mga players dahil sa kanya. And alam na namin na kahit wala siya, kaya namin maglaro sa loob ng court kasi nagko-communicate naman po kami as a team,” Dajao shared.
Dysangco, Lim, and Dajao will look to guide UST once again when the Junior Growling Tigresses aim to complete their perfect season and secure the title next Thursday, March 20, at the same San Juan venue.
