Tigresses tame Lady Bulldogs to regain UAAP women’s basketball title

MANILA, Philippines — The crown is back in Espana.

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses capped off their dominant run in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball action with a masterful 79-64 victory over the National University Lady Bulldogs Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UST, who trailed the championship series 0-1 after a 14-0 sweep in the elimination round, completed a reverse sweep against the Lady Bulldogs.

This is the Tigresses’ second title in three seasons. Back in UAAP Season 86, the Espana-based squad snapped NU’s seven-season reign in women’s basketball before the Lady Bulldogs regained the title last season.

And now, UST is back on top.

Kent Pastrana finished off her collegiate career with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and a block, while Oma Onianwa had 15 markers and seven boards.

NU had a hot start, going up by 10, 13-23, in the second quarter. But UST countered with 12 straight points, as they overtook the Lady Bulldogs 25-23 in the same frame.

Tin Cayabyab snapped the run with a technical free throw, but the Tigresses continued with the onslaught, taking a 37-30 advantage at the half.

UST then broke the game wide open in the third, hiking the lead to 21, 67-46, after free throws by Coi Danganan.

NU, however, uncorked an 18-7 blitz to close the gap, 74-64, with 4:41 left.

But that was the Lady Bulldogs’ final points of the game, as Onianwa and Agatha Bron put the finishing touches in the championship.

Eka Soriano, Karylle Sierba and CJ Maglupay tallied 10 markers apiece.

Cayabyab carried the load with 21 points for NU along with six rebounds. Aloha Betanio chipped in 11 markers and Marga Villanueva had 10.

The Tigresses now have 11 championships in the UAAP.