In just her first UAAP Finals appearance, National University rookie guard Cielo Pagdulagan displayed poise and composure beyond her years.
She sank the game-winning basket to seal a nail-biting 72-71 victory over the University of Santo Tomas in Game One of the Season 87 Women’s Basketball Finals on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
With the UST Growling Tigresses holding a 71-70 lead after Brigette Santos’ reverse layup, Pagdulagan responded with a layup of her own, courtesy of a perfectly timed assist from teammate Ann Pingol.
That clutch play secured a 72-71 victory for the Lady Bulldogs, putting them one win away from reclaiming the championship.
“Siyempre po I’m happy and sobrang thankful po kasi yung play na yun, last play po talaga namin yun,” shared the 20-year-old rookie from Antipolo City.
“Nag-timeout pa si Coach Aris para gawin yung play na yun. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga teammate ko kasi siyempre pinagkatiwalaan nila ako para sa last play na yan.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay ate Karl Ann kasi talagang nasa timing yung pasa niya and pinasa niya talaga sa akin. Ibig-sabihin nagtiwala siya talaga sa akin,” she continued.
Pagdulagan finished the game with nine points and five rebounds in 24 minutes, impressing in her finals debut.
Her game-winning basket drew praise from head coach Aris Dimaunahan, who reflected on how this pivotal moment symbolized the Lady Bulldogs’ culture of trust and resilience.
“Out of Cielo’s nine points today, those last two were the biggest ones. We needed a basket, and while we had seniors on the court, I trust every one of our players,” Dimaunahan shared.
“We gave the ball to Cielo, and it came with a great pass from Karl Ann Pingol.”
The former Blackwater mentor recounted a preseason incident involving Pingol, which underscored his belief in the importance of learning through experience.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“We played UST in the preseason, and I gave the ball to Karl Ann Pingol. They stole it from her. But matigas din ang ulo ko – I wanted her to learn because experience is the best teacher. I told her during viewing sessions that I wouldn’t give up on her. If the same situation arose, I’d give her the ball again to overcome that hurdle,” Dimaunahan explained.
“Tonight, she executed under pressure. That pass wasn’t easy given the time, score, and stakes. But she delivered, and everyone on the court did their job. It gave Cielo a clear line to make the basket.
“Trust is everything in this team. Whether they succeed or fail, it’s about giving them the chance to grow. That’s the beauty of this game. Cielo’s two points were huge for us in crunch time,” Dimaunahan added.
For Pagdulagan, this game carried deeper significance.
Last season, she watched from the sidelines as the Growling Tigresses ended NU’s historic winning streak.
The sting of that defeat fueled her and the Lady Bulldogs’ perfect 15-0 run this season, culminating in their drive to reclaim the crown.
As Pagdulagan prepares for Game Two on Wednesday, she remains focused on her role in NU’s redemption campaign.
“Siyempre po sobrang happy kasi di naman sa lahat ng team mararamdaman mo yun, and I’m so thankful na dito ako ngayon sa NU,” she said.
“Kahit rookie ako, yung tiwala sa akin ng mga teammate ko, coaches ko, and managers ay 100-percent talaga. Ang ginagawa ko is sinusuklian ko lang yung tiwala nila sa akin hangga’t kaya kong ibigay yung best effort ko.
“Excited ako and kinakabahan din. Pero hindi pa din kami mag-re-relax kasi ito yung pinaka inaantay namin. Antagal namin naghintay – almost eight months para sa championship na ito. Ibibigay lang namin yung best namin at kung ano kaya namin,” she concluded.
