Tigresses get back at Lady Bulldogs to force Game 3

MANILA, Philippines — For all the marbles.

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses forced a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball finals after blasting National University Lady Bulldogs, 95-70, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UST, which absorbed its first loss of the season in Game 1, regained its dominant form in Game 2.

Karylle Sierba powered the Tigresses with 17 points and five rebounds. Brigette Santos chipped in 15 markers, seven boards and four steals.

UST exploded right from the get-go, leading by as much as 14 points, 20-6, in the first quarter.

NU was able to cut the deficit to six, 40-46, but it was the nearest the Lady Bulldogs got to.

The Tigresses then exploded in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 27-13 as they grabbed a 75-53 advantage.

The Espana-based squad’s lead ballooned to as much as 31 points, 87-56, after back-to-back triples by Sierba and Agatha Bron, as UST breezed through to the finish line.

Rachelle Ambos and Coi Danganan had 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for the winning squad. Kent Pastrana was held to just eight points but had four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Tin Cayabyab paced NU with 22 points, while Marga Villanueva had 12. Newly crowned Most Valuable Player Karl Pingol finished with eight points, 10 assist, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Game 3 is set this weekend.