Just like in the five-on-five scene, the National University Lady Bulldogs are equally as dominant in 3×3 basketball.
The first-ever UAAP Women’s 3×3 Basketball champions dominated the competition with a nine-game sweep, capped by a masterful 21-3 Finals win over the Adamson Lady Falcons, Sunday afternoon at the Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig.
This is NU’s 15th straight win in the league’s latest demonstration sport. Moreover, Ria Nabalan made history once more, being the first UAAP student-athlete to end her career undefeated in two sports.
“Malungkot na masaya. Malungkot dahil ito na yung last time na makakasama ko teammates ko at ito na yung last game ko for NU. Ito na talaga yung last. Masaya rin kasi makikipagsabayan na ko sa mundo, makakalaban ko na yung mga beterano,” said Nabalan, who scattered six points, four rebounds, and an assist in her final game.
Monique del Carmen scored on a driving lay-up with 26 seconds to spare to call for the stoppage of the one-sided affair that saw the Lady Bulldogs limit their opponent to just two points in the first nine minutes of action.
Completing the NU quartet were twin towers Jack Animam and Rhena Itesi.
Animam had eight points and 11 rebounds in the contest while Itesi finished with six points and 13 boards.
Mar Prado scored all of Adamson’s three points.
The Lady Bulldogs, who defeated all seven of their opponents by a margin of 13.7 points per game in the elimination round, dominated the UST Growling Tigresses in the semis, 19-5.
“Iniisip lang namin yung school namin at nirerepresent namin yung NU. Pagsuot namin ito, talagang kailangan namin ibigay ang lahat,” reflected Nabalan.
On the other hand, the Lady Falcons had to gut out a 14-12 win over the Pedregosa sisters-led UE Lady Warriors in the other bracket.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws and the Ateneo Lady Eagles ended their campaign with 3-4 records. La Salle was able to eke out a couple of wins while UP ended up going 1-6.
