By: Jerod Orcullo
After scoring just two points in their double-overtime loss last Wednesday, Rachelle Ambos bounced back with a stellar 13-point, six-rebound performance to help lift the UST Growling Tigresses past the Pilipinas Aguilas in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
A far cry from her mere four minutes of action in the series opener, Ambos logged 19 minutes this time around — with four in the latter half of the fourth quarter.
There, she confidently sank a floater over the outstretched arms of Aguilas’ Lexi Pana to stretch their lead to double digits, 65-55, with 3:54 left in the game.
“Sobrang happy po ako sa naging result po ng game namin. Una po gusto ko po pasalamatan yung teammates ko, yung team ko, kasi hindi ko po yun magagawa kung wala sila,” said Ambos, who was named Best Player of the Game.
(C) WMPBL
Earlier in the third quarter, with UST’s lead trimmed to just two, 39-37, Ambos broke free on the fastbreak. She then completed a crucial and-one play against Pana, halting an 11-4 run by the Aguilas and regaining momentum for the Tigresses.
Coming into the game with averages of only 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, Ambos delivered the spark UST needed — especially with the team struggling to find consistent offense beyond the double-digit efforts of Kent Pastrana, team captain Eka Soriano, and Kayla Relliquette in Game 1.
“Yung confidence ko po na nakuha ngayon sa Game 2 po madadala ko po sa Game 3 na, simula po na nag-trust yung teammates ko, lalong lalo na yung coaches ko po. Dun po sa positive talks, sa mga ginagawa nila, motivation,” Ambos added.
Now riding high on momentum, Ambos and the Growling Tigresses will aim to close out the series and clinch the inaugural WMPBL title in the decisive Game 3, set for Wednesday, once again at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
