NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after escaping the UST Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — National University overcame a double-digit deficit to escape defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 72-71, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cielo Pagdulagan made the game-winning layup with 50 seconds left capping the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback from 14 down in the third quarter.
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“We know for a fact that it’s a short series. The mindset of our team was very important to get Game 1. We should not look at the results right away, let the results take care of itself. Our mindset was to play the game possession by possession,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan, whose squad goes for the title clincher in Game 2 on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: UST ousts Adamson, returns to UAAP women’s basketball Finals vs NU
NU coach Aris Dimaunahan after taking Game 1. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/FwB8TeuUWM
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“For some reason, in the first half we had 22 turnovers. That’s very uncharacteristic for us. I’m glad and happy for our players. Nobody veered away from what we do, especially in the second half. It’s a hell of game for both teams. It’s good for the league and for fans that women’s basketball is turning out to be like this way. That means the level in both teams is leveling up.”
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Tacky Tacatac missed a contested triple from the left corner that would’ve won it for the Tigresses, who held off the Adamson Lady Falcons, 71-59, on Wednesday in the final game of the stepladder semifinals.
Karl Ann Pingol delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and three steals for NU while Camille Clarin made stops against UST star Kent Pastrana and finished with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals to atone for her seven turnovers in the first half.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs sweep their way back to UAAP Finals
The Lady Bulldogs, who still won despite turning the ball over 31 times, came out rusty after coming off a 14-day hiatus and trailed 51-37 with seven minutes to play in the third quarter before unleashing an 11-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the fourth quarter with Brigette Santos giving UST a 71-70 lead late before Pagdulagan put NU ahead for good.
Pastrana led UST with a game-high 22 points on top of six rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Santos added 12 points.
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