UAAP: UST women dethrone NU, clinch first title since ‘06

Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The University of Santo Tomas Growing Tigresses celebrate after beating the National University Lady Bulldogs, 71-69, to take their crown as the UAAP Season 86 women" s="" basketball="" champions="" at="" Araneta="" Colisuem="" in="" Quezon="" City="" on="" December="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/06/20231206-uaap86-womens-basketball-ust-md1.jpg"/><figcaption>The University of Santo Tomas Growing Tigresses celebrate after beating the National University Lady Bulldogs, 71-69, to take their crown as the UAAP Season 86 women&#x27;s basketball champions at Araneta Colisuem in Quezon City on December 6, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The UST Growling Tigresses are champions of the UAAP women’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2006.University of Sto. Tomas reigned over the seven-time defending champions National University, 71-69, in Game 3 of the Season 86 Tournament Finals on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Tantoy Ferrer finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists to lead the España-based squad in scoring.In addition, Ferrer was hailed as the Finals MVP after delivering 15.7 points, 11.3 rebounds 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals in three games.Also stepping up for UST were Kent Pastana who got 14 markers, and Nikki Villasin, who scored the title-clinching basket, with 10.After a failed attempt by NU in the last 20 seconds, Villasin scored on a game-winning fast break to finally get the lead, 71-69, off an assist by Rocel Dionisio at the 9-second mark.Kristine Cayabyab tried to win the game through a three-pointer in their following possession, but the ball completely missed the rim, and this resulted in the end of the dynasty of the Lady Bulldogs.Before this, down by 14, 61-47, early in the fourth period, the Haydee Ong-coached squad slowly chipped in points, eventually allowing them to cut NU&#x27;s lead to half, 65-58, after a jumper by Brigette Santos at the 5:16 mark.“I’m really lost for words. I’m happy for the girls. Sila ang gumawa nito. We’re down big but sabi ko lang sakanila, don’t give up. Stick together. Unti-untiin natin, said Ong during post-game. Karl Pingol’s basket with still 4:14 left re-extended NU&#x27;s lead to nine, 67-58, but this is when Ferrer took matters into her own hands.The Finals MVP scored six straight points, the first three coming from beyond the arc and the next coming from the 15-foot-foul line, and these sequences allowed UST to not only get within a single possession with still over three minutes left, but also turn the momentum towards their side. Angelica Surada tried to weather the storm by scoring a basket at the 2:25 mark, but Ferrer answered with a huge triple to get within two, 69-67, just six seconds later.A Pastrana jumper plays after gave UST another step towards victory as she tied the game with only 24 seconds left in the season.“We made good stops in the last 1 minute. That spelled the difference. ‘Yung puso ng players ko. Hindi sila bumigay. Kahit down sila,” Ong said after UST got its 12th women’s title in the UAAP.Cayabyab led the Aris Dimaunahan-led squad with 18 points and four rebounds, Princess Fabruada finished with 13, and Pingol put up 11 markers alongside six boards.Surada and Stefanie Berberabe stood tall after they grabbed 11 boards each. They also both scored nine markers.But Camille Clarin, who starred for NU in Games 1 and 2, was kept completely in check as she went 0-of-11 from the field and scored just two points from the free throw line. The Scores: UST - 71 -– Ferrer 19, Pastrana 16, Villasin 12, Tacatac 9, Bron 4, Dionisio 4, Santos 4, Ambos 3, Maglupay 0, Soriano 0, Amatong 0, Serrano 0. NU - 69 -– Cayabyab 18, Fabruada 13, Pingol 11, Berberabe 9, Surada 9, Canuto 5, Clarin 2, Konateh 2, Bartolo 0, Betanio 0, Solis 0.Quarterscores: 19-19, 32-44, 47-61, 71-69

The UST Growling Tigresses are champions of the UAAP women’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2006.

UAAP: UST women dethrone NU, clinch first title since ‘06 | ABS-CBN

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UAAP: UST women dethrone NU, clinch first title since ‘06

UAAP: UST women dethrone NU, clinch first title since ‘06

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 06, 2023 02:40 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 06, 2023 05:37 PM PHT

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Basketball

UAAP

UAAP Finals

UAAP Season 86

University of Sto. Tomas

UST

UST Growling Tigresses

NU

National University

NU Lady Bulldogs

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