When the University of Santo Tomas’ backs were against the wall in Game 2 of last season’s UAAP Finals, Brigette Santos and Karylle Sierba stepped up to keep their team alive — only to fall short against Camille Clarin and National University.
Fast forward 364 days, and the Growling Tigresses found themselves in the exact same high-stakes scenario: a do-or-die Game 2 against the Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Finals, once again at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
But this time, history would bend in UST’s favor. With the program aiming to cap a historic elimination round sweep, Santos and Sierba rose to the occasion once more, combining for 32 points to lead the Growling Tigresses to a commanding 95-70 victory and force a winner-take-all Game 3.
Even in a pressure-cooker moment, fourth-year guard Santos remained calm, embracing the challenge that haunted her team last season.
“Siguro yung eagerness lang talaga na hindi kami magpapatalo ang naging difference,” she said after contributing 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, along with seven assists and four steals.
“Alam namin na defending champions [ang NU] at tinalo namin sila both nung eliminations, so wala na kami dapat ikatakot ‘eh. Nasa amin na ‘yon, kalaban lang talaga namin yung sarili namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For both Santos and Sierba, the win was as much about reclaiming confidence as it was about points on the board.
“Siguro, nag-enjoy lang kami sa game.
“Nung [Game 1] nawala yung enjoyment namin, sobrang nag-focus lang kami at nauna yung gigil namin nung [Game 1]. Pero ngayon, sobrang ganda ng sistema namin ngayon, lahat nasunod, and sana sa Game 3, ganon pa rin kami,” Sierba shared, leading UST with 17 points and adding five rebounds.
Santos echoed the sentiment: “Yung previous game nga na natalo kami sa NU, malaking impact siya sa amin dahil malaking factor din siya ngayon kung bakit nanalo ngayon. Nagising kami ‘eh. Hindi kasi namin nagawa kung ano ba dapat gawin nung first game. Parang nag-relax kami.
“Yung game ngayon, ‘yon talaga yung identity namin na dapat tuloy-tuloy lang namin gawin.”
With the Growling Tigresses rediscovering their rhythm, head coach Haydee Ong is urging the team to leave everything on the court in Game 3 and rewrite history — aiming for the program’s 13th UAAP women’s basketball crown.
“I hope na every time nananalo yung NU whenever pag Game 3, we hope to rewrite history na on Game 3, kami naman ang magre-reclaim ng crown,” Ong said.
“We’ll do our best to put the players into the best spot and part for them to become successful pagdating sa Game 3.”
