Defending champion University of Santo Tomas denied National University Nazareth School of an elimination round sweep in the AAP Season 88 High School Girls Basketball Tournament, escaping with a 73-71 victory, ahead of their championship showdown, Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
Despite the absence of head coach Sen Dysangco due to a one-game suspension, the Junior Growling Tigresses saw Lea Pinuela, Sabel Anacan, and Pia Petalcorin rise to the occasion.
Together, they exacted revenge against the Lady Bullpups — the only team to have beaten them this season, handing UST a 74-62 defeat last February 1 at the Adamson Gym.
In a preview of their best-of-three Finals series, which will also take place on the first day of the boys’ finals, UST and NUNS ended the eliminations tied at the top of the four-team field, both with 5-1 win-loss records.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Actually, when we found out Coach Sen was suspended, everyone was ready to step in. Yung girls naman, very coachable — whoever coaches them, maglalaro naman sila. I think coming into this game, prepared naman kami,” assistant coach Charlene Javier, who stepped in for Dysangco, said.
“This is a big confidence boost for the players coming into the Finals because we got this versus NUNS. It is a very tough game, and I think it is a good experience na ganito kadikit yung laro namin. Nakita nila kung gaano kahirap yung game, and at the same time, the girls are always ready, and this will give a lot of confidence come the Finals,” she added.
UST appeared on track for a dominant revenge, with a Riri Perez layup and a six-point run by Anacan — built on an and-one inside basket and a triple — sending NUNS into a 17-point, 54-37 hole at the 6:16 mark of the third quarter.
However, the Lady Bullpups came alive in the payoff period. They unleashed a 12-2 run capped by a Zaydhen Rosano floater and an Aubrey Lapasaran three-pointer, trimming the deficit to four, 63-59, with 4:37 left on the clock.
Thanks to their strong start and third-quarter surge, UST managed to withstand NUNS’ late rally. Crucial baskets by Anacan, Petalcorin, Pinuela, and Sandra Abrantes kept the Growling Tigresses ahead, despite late triples by Rosano that cut the lead to 73-71 with 21.3 seconds remaining.
Pinuela finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals, while Anacan also scored 17 points alongside seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Petalcorin added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Perez was limited to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting with four turnovers, but contributed eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
For the Lady Bullpups, Rosano led with 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and six steals, followed by Lapasaran with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Zane Singson was one point shy of a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds, along with two steals and one assist. Ruiza Olmos and Bri Katigbak added six and five points, respectively.
The Scores:
UST (73) – Pinuela 17, Anacan 17, Petalcorin 14, Perez 9, Oczon 5, Insoy 3, Labay 3, Talla 3, Abrantes 2, Hew 0, Calig-onan 0.
NUNS (71) – Rosano 21, Lapasaran 20, Singson 9, Olmos 6, Katigbak 5, Mallari 4, Badajos 3, Onate 3, Sales 0, Agad 0, Luzana 0.
Quarterscores: 25-15, 44-34, 61-47, 73-71.
