UST celebrates after winning the UAAP Season 87 girls' basketball championship against NU-Nazareth, March 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas sealed its long awaited UAAP girls' basketball crown in scintillating fashion on Thursday. 

An unlikely hero emerged for  the Junior Growling Tigresses, with Sandra Abrantes stepping up to steer UST to a thrilling 63-57 comeback win over National University Nazareth School at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Bullpups had threatened to spoil UST's dreams of a perfect campaign, leading 57-52 after a layup by Maria Sales with 4:32 remaining.

That was when Abrantes took charge -- she scored nine points in an 11-0 run that stunned NU-Nazareth. Season 87 MVP Barby Dajao and Abrantes combined for back-to-back layups, giving UST a commanding 63-57 lead with just 17.2 seconds left — a margin too steep for the Lady Bullpups to overcome.

Gilas Youth guard Aubrey Lapasaran and Zaydhen Rosano attempted desperate three-pointers in the dying seconds, but both misfired, confirming the Junior Growling Tigresses' coronation.

Defense played a pivotal role in UST's triumph, as the Tigresses shut down NUNS for the final 4:32 of the tightly contested match.

READ: UST girls clobber NU-Nazareth again, one win away from crown

"Sabi nga sa amin ni Coach Sen [Dysangco], be ready when you're called upon. Ginawa ko lang yung best na makakatulong sa team and sabi nga ni coach sa akin, do whatever it takes para manalo sa game. Ginawa ko lang yung maambag sa team kasi ang dami naming sacrifices na dito, kaya deserve namin ito," Abrantes said.

Dajao capped off her remarkable individual season in style, claiming Finals MVP honors after averaging 23.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 steals in the two-game championship series.

"Nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa teammates ko na nag-step up, lalo na si Sandra. Hindi namin ine-expect na magiging dikit yung laban pero ginawa lang yung best namin para hindi masayang lahat ng pinagtrabahuan namin," Dajao said.

This triumph marked UST's first official UAAP girls' basketball title, following their co-champion finish with Adamson University in the inaugural tournament back in Season 82. That series was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The victory also underscored UST's dominance over the Lady Bullpups, whom they defeated in all four Season 87 meetings en route to their unblemished 8-0 season sweep.

"They really worked hard for this. They played through adversity. I'm very, very proud of them that they really fought hard. Nothing to take away from NUNS, they really played well, it just so happened that we had a few breaks sa dulo and we're just happy to get it," UST head coach Dysangco said.

UST's Sandra Abrantes in action against NU-Nazareth in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 girls' basketball Finals, March 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

Dajao led UST with 22 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. Abrantes contributed 14 points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes of action.

Season 87 Rookie of the Year Rhiane Perez struggled offensively, finishing with just three points on 0-of-8 shooting, but her impact was felt elsewhere with 10 rebounds, six steals, four assists, and two blocks.

Kassandra Tambawan and Jannah Wencenslao added six points each in the victory.

For NUNS, Lapasaran paced the Lady Bullpups with 22 points, eight assists, four steals, and one block. Rosano recorded a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds, along with three steals and one assist.

Ashlyn Abong added six points and 14 rebounds, while Rebekkah Pascua contributed five points, five rebounds, one assist, and one block.

In their debut season in the UAAP girls' division, NUNS fell short of solving the UST puzzle, losing all four encounters with the Junior Growling Tigresses — their only defeats of the season.

The Scores:

UST (63) – Dajao 22, Abrantes 14, Tambawan 6, Wenceslao 6, Insoy 5, Pinuela 5, Perez 3, Anonuevo 2, Onate 0, Banate 0.

NUNS (57) – Lapasaran 22, Rosano 12, Abong 6, Pascua 5, Avila 4, Trinidad 4, Mallari 2, Sales 2, Badajos 0, Singson 0.

Quarterscores: 21-23, 42-39, 50-54, 63-57