National University’s Cielo Pagdulagan (left) against University of Santo Tomas’ Brigette Santos in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA (UPDATED) — National University is back on top of UAAP women's basketball. 

The Lady Bulldogs completed their redemption story after they triumphed over University of Santo Tomas, 78-73, in their Season 87 Finals Game 3 faceoff at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday.

This is the Aris Dimaunahan-mentored team's eighth championship in the women's division, with all but the latest one coming from a historic seven-peat that lasted from 2014 to 2022.

"I'm very satisfied with how we conducted our year," said Dimaunahan during the postgame presser as he reflected on their 16-1 campaign this season. 

"These players have been on it since Day 1 of our training camp. We asked so much of them, at hindi mo matatawaran 'yung effort nila every day. They were killing each other in practice, from the first group to the third group. 'Yung competition namin sa practice, sobrang taas."

"Kaya I'm really satisfied. Today is the fruit of our labor for the entire year. We kept our steps very cautiously. We had our first loss of the season noong Game 2, pero 'di sila bumigay. The more they kept focused and hungrier to win. I'm really satisfied with how they conducted themselves," he continued.

READ: UST denies NU's bid for sweep, forces do-or-die Game 3

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

Heading the charge for the champions was Finals MVP Cielo Pagdulagan who had a game-high 21 points with nine rebounds, three steals, and three assists, and she was also the game-changer in the third period wherein they pulled away from UST.

"I'm happy with the awards, pero bonus lang yung individual awards kasi ang goal namin is yung championship, and ang goal ko is matulungan yung mga ate ko," said Pagdulagan, who averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals to earn the Finals' individual plum. 

"Talagang binigay ko lang yung best ko. Last game na namin 'to, so inisip namin na dapat itodo na namin yung effort," she added.

Also standing out for National U were veterans Angel Surada and Camille Clarin who each scored 14, while Karl Pingol finished with a 10-point, nine-rebound game.

National University celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball championship at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas, December 15, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsTied at 38 after the first 20 minutes of action, Cielo Pagdulagan headed a 10-to-nothing start for the Lady Bulldogs for a 48-38 lead, with the Season 87 Rookie of the Year posting 10 of their 27 points in that span.

National U then used this momentum to increase to 15 at multiple points in the fourth, with one coming after a Camille Clarin deuce for a 72-57 lead at the 6:15 mark.

But UST had one last ditch to show as they looked to remain alive.

The España-based squad unleashed a 13-to-3 rampage, one that got them to within five, 75-70, after a Tacky Tacatac triple with only 1:45 left in the contest, but they were not able to capitalize on this in their next possessions as Karylle Sierba and Tacatac missed consecutive threes in their ensuing possessions. 

Clarin then extended their lead to seven, 77-70, with a pair of foul shots at the 22-second mark, and that was all National U needed to ice the game despite Sierba cutting the lead to four with a trey 11 seconds later. 

Sierba top-scored for UST with her career-high of 21 markers (4/11 3pts) on top of three assists and three rebounds, while Tacatac backstopped her with 14 points (4/12 3pts), two boards, and a steal.

Brigette Santos, who fired her career-best 27 points in their Game 2 win, was limited to eight points (3/15 FGs), five assists, four rebounds, four steals, and a block.

The Scores:

NU 78 – Pagdulagan 21, Clarin 14, Surada 14, Pingol 10, Cayabyab 5, Fabruada 4, Konateh 4, Betanio 3, Canuto 3, Villanueva 0, Bartolo 0.

UST 73 – Sierba 20, Tacatac 14, Santos 8, Soriano 8, Pastrana 7, Maglupay 7, Bron 5, Danganan 4, Serrano 0, Ambos 0.

Quarterscores: 17-17, 38-38, 65-50, 78-73.