Rhiane Perez and Lea Pinuela linked up, lifting defending champion University of Santo Tomas to a thrilling 96-87 overtime victory over National University Nazareth School and move one win away from defending its UAAP High School Girls’ Basketball Title, Sunday evening at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
In a heated, tightly-contested matchup that featured nine deadlocks and eight lead changes, Perez and Pinuela rose to the occasion, combining for 48 of the Junior Growling Tigresses’ 96 points.
Their stellar performance helped inch UST closer to a second consecutive UAAP girls’ basketball crown.
Perez, the presumptive MVP, finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Meanwhile, Pinuela added 23 points, six steals, two assists, and one rebound, as the Junior Growling Tigresses continued to assert their dominance over NUNS.
After dropping their first-round encounter on February 1, UST has now had the upper hand against the Lady Bullpups, winning 73-71 in the second round on March 8 and carrying that momentum into Sunday’s Game 1 victory.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Actually, we talked amongst ourselves, yung team ko, and we kind of really expected the physicality. Siyempre, you know, we’re playing now for all the marbles and for a championship,” UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco said after returning from a one-game suspension.
“So, we reminded each other talaga na it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really, really tough. It should be.”
With NUNS holding a slim 78-76 lead with 3:02 left in regulation, a scuffle over a loose ball escalated between the two rivals. Presumptive Elite Team member Aubrey Lapasaran was ejected after committing two technical fouls, while Pia Petalcorin and KJ Badajos were called for one technical foul each.
Additionally, Janice Oczon committed an unsportsmanlike foul.
The ejection of Lapasaran, who finished with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block, proved pivotal. UST fought back from an 80-76 deficit, with a Kat Insoy putback and consecutive inside hits from Pinuela and Perez, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, UST seized control early, building a six-point, 88-82 lead at the 4:09 mark behind back-to-back three-pointers from Sandra Abrantes and Petalcorin.
The Lady Bullpups tried to rally, with a Zia Onate layup and one free throw each from Bri Katigbak and Rhys Luzana trimming the lead to 88-86 with 1:45 remaining. But the Junior Growling Tigresses displayed championship poise down the stretch.
UST closed the game with a 9-1 run, capped by clutch baskets from Abrantes, Petalcorin, and Perez. That restored a 94-87 advantage with 47.2 seconds left, while putting them on the cusp of their second UAAP girls’ basketball championship.
“Words cannot express how proud I am. Because I’ve been really trying to drill ito sa kanila. But again, these are kids trying to navigate and learn how to handle pressure or ito sa ating basketball as a microcosm of life. So, naintindihan ko [na] sometimes emotions get the best of us,” Dysangco said.
“But again, what’s important is you have to be able to control these emotions. And with how they reacted kanina, I think that they have really learned how to do that. And I hope they would continue to improve mentally, emotionally, you know, because it’s not yet over,” he added.
The Junior Growling Tigresses aim to complete their title defense when Game 2 tips off next Sunday, March 22, at 1:00 PM, at the same venue.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Oczon also contributed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, alongside four assists, two steals, and one block. Meanwhile, Petalcorin finished with eight points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Abrantes added seven points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
For NUNS, presumptive Elite Team member Zaydhen Rosano nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and eight steals, along with four assists and one block.
Katigbak posted 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Badajos and Ruiza Olmos added eight and seven points, respectively.
The Scores:
UST (96) – Perez 25, Pinuela 23, Oczon 18, Petalcorin 8, Abrantes 7, Labay 5, Talla 4, Anacan 2, Insoy 2, Calig-onan 2, Arciaga 0.
NUNS (87) – Lapasaran 28, Rosano 19, Katigbak 10, Badajos 8, Olmos 7, Onate 5, Mallari 4, Sales 3, Singson 2, Luzana 1, Agad 0.
Quarterscores: 20-20, 43-44, 61-61, 82-82, 96-87.
