Action between NU and UST in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball Finals, December 8, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. UAAP Media

MANILA -- National University is out to complete its story of redemption in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball Finals, where the Lady Bulldogs will try to once again defeat the University of Santo Tomas.

The Lady Bulldogs had advanced to the Finals outright by winning all 14 of their elimination round games, but they were pushed to the limit by the defending champions in Game 1 of the best-of-3 championship series last Sunday.

A clutch bucket from rookie Cielo Pagdulagan and a huge defensive stop in the closing seconds gave National U a 72-71 win, putting them on the brink of another title.

READ: NU women complete comeback over UST to take Game 1

They can complete their mission on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with game time set for 1:00 p.m.

A win will not only give National U their eighth title in nine seasons as well as complete their redemption tour -- it will also clinch a perfect 16-0 season for the Lady Bulldogs.

"Talk about mindset, again our mantra since Day 1 is to and was to improve on the daily. We always want to get better than the day before, and that will still be our mantra, that will still be our mindset to get better from the next days before our next game so that we could be more ready come Game 2 and hopefully, we will play a lot better in Game 2 so that we could be nearing dun sa gusto naming destination this year," NU coach Aris Dimaunahan said. 

Coach Haydee Ong remains upbeat that UST will fight and live another day as her troops put up a gallant stand in the opener.

"Nothing to be ashamed of. The girls did very well and I'm so proud of them. Hopefully, manalo kami. Yung mga miscues namin sa defense namin, yun yung mga tatargetin namin for two more days. Kung ano yung mga kailangan namin gawin. And we'll be back stronger," Ong said.

In the junior high school division, University of the East and UST will clash in the division's Finals opener to open the three-game championship slate at 11 a.m.

READ: UST boys turn back FEU-D, set up Finals clash with UE

The well-rested Junior Warriors gained an early passage to the Finals after dethroning inaugural champions NUNS Bullpups, while the Tiger Cubs had to defeat Season 86 silver medalists FEU-D Baby Tamaraws twice to clinch the last Finals ticket.

For head coach Andrew Estrella, they are not only focused on their division's glory, as UE looks to end a 39-year UAAP basketball title drought across all divisions.

"Right now, we are just thinking about the present. Siyempre, nandiyan yung other stuff na matagal na walang basketball championship and UE. That's our motivation. We are also motivated to win a championship for Boss Frank, Boss Jacob and Boss Jared (Lao), especially, alam natin yung nangyari sa Benilde sa NCAA," Estrella said.

UST head coach Noli Mejos, on the other hand, believes that it will take more than the Tiger Cubs star trio of Jhon Canapi, Dustin Bathan, and Andwele Cabanero to finally take down UE, citing the importance of team chemistry and doubled hard work in training.

While the Tiger Cubs lost both elimination matches to the Junior Warriors, UST came close to taking down UE with a narrow 78-80 defeat in their second-round encounter last October 30.

"Dadagdagan pa namin yung effort namin [against UE], especially on defense. Balik sa practice, viewing na naman. Kung nagawa namin dati na matalo sa kanila by two points, kulang yung effort namin at players noon, ngayon dadagdagan namin para manalo kami," Mejos said.

RELATED VIDEO: