MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses turned back Pilipinas Aguilas, 69-64, in Game 2 of the WMPBL Finals on Sunday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Negrense Rachelle Ambos stepped up offensively with 13 points to go with six rebounds, one assist, and one steal as the Growling Tigresses tied the best-of-three championship series at 1-1.
“It was a team effort. Hindi lang kami pumayag na basta-basta na lang matatapos ‘yung series nang hindi kami lumalaban,” Ambos said during her Player of the Game interview.
“Sinimulan lang namin positivity. ‘Yun lang ‘yung naging mindset naming, and lahat din ng mga tinuro sa amin ng coaches in-apply namin in this game and ito ang naging resulta,” she added.
With the Growling Tigresses holding to a 67-58 lead with over a minute left in the game, the Aguilas clawed their way back behind Alexis Pana and Nathalia Prado to cut the deficit to 64-67 with 28 seconds left.
The Growling Tigresses managed to increase the lead in the next possession via an inside connection from Isioma Onianwa before they prevented the Aguilas’ last second three-point heaves.
The winner-take-all Game 3 between the Growling Tigresses and the Aguilas is scheduled on Wednesday night, April 23, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Afril Bernardino of the KalosPH Philippine Navy Lady Sailors was named as the first-ever MVP in the inaugural WMPBL season after finishing with a total of 44.8 statistical points.
The 29-year-old Bernardino was also named to the WMPBL Mythical Five! A along with Skyrisers’ Ambie Almazan, Kent Pastrana of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses, Allana Lim of the Discovery Perlas, and Lexi Pana of the Pilipinas Aguilas.
On the other hand, Skyrisers’ Cindy Resultay was named Defensive Player of the Conference, and Danica Pacia of the Cavite ‘Tol Patriots received the league’s Sportsmanship Award./PN
