MANILA – Sandra Abrantes stepped up in the endgame as University of Santo Tomas Junior Growling Tigresses defeated National University Nazareth School Lady Bullpups, 63-57, to capture the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament title on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Down 52-57 with over four minutes left, Abrantes connected two free throws, an inside basket, a split free throw, and another inside hit to surge the Junior Growling Tigresses ahead at 59-57 with over a minute left.
Following misses from the Lady Bullpups, Barby Dajao scored on a fastbreak layup to widen the Junior Growling Tigresses’ lead to 61-57 before Abrantes sealed the championship with another inside basket.
Abrantes finished the game with 14 points, with nine coming in the fourth quarter, to go with five rebounds as the Junior Growling Tigresses wrapped up the best-of-three title series at 2-0.
Negrense Dajao, the Most Valuable Player awardee in UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament, contributed a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for UST, which ended the season without a loss.
Technically, this was the Junior Growling Tigresses’ second consecutive UAAP Girls Basketball title after being declared co-champions in UAAP Season 82, the last time the division was played.
“Wala namang nag iba sa paghahanda namin in this game, itinuloy lang namin ‘yung mga ginagawa namin, and buti na lang natapos na din,” said UST assistant coach Allana Lim after the game.
Aubrey Lapasaran finished with 22 points, while Zaydhen Rosano added a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Lady Bullpups.
Meanwhile, UST Tiger Cubs forced a do-or-die Game 3 in the Boys’ Basketball Tournament finals after an 89-85 victory over the NUNS Bullpups.
Koji Buenaflor led the way with 24 points, Charles Esteban added 16 markers, while Carl Manding and Kirk Canete contributed 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the Tiger Cubs./PN
BOX SCORE:
UST 63 — Dajao 22, Abrantes 14, Tambawan 6, Wenceslao 6, Insoy 5, Pinuela 5, Perez 3, Anonuevo 2, Banate 0, Onate 0.
NUNS 57 — Lapasaran 22, Rosano 12, Abong 6, Pascua 5, Avila 4, Trinidad 4, Sales 2, Mallari 2, Badajos 0, Singson 0.
Quarterscores: 21-23, 42-39, 50-53, 63-57.
