Thomasian guards Brigitte Santos and Karylle Sierba torched the hardwood, scoring career-high games to tow defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) past women’s basketball dynasty National University, 78-68, in game two of the UAAP finals Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Santos fired 13 points in the first half for a strong start by the Tigresses, who led by as much as 13 late in the first quarter.
Bruisers Angelica Surada and Princess Fabruada though found their strength inside the shaded lane, helping the erstwhile undefeated Bulldogs bite back with an 8-0 run to start the third quarter and regain the lead, 43-39.
Sierba and Lady Bulldog Karl Ann Pingol had a heated exchange of baskets to start a see-saw fourth quarter, with the former getting the better end of it, firing 15 points in the final 12 minutes, with Santos and Kent Pastrana helping, to earn the equalizer for the Tigresses, dealing the Lady Bulldogs their only loss of Season 87, and force a game three.
“Para kay [UST head] coach [Haydee Ong] ito, Kahit parati niya akong nasisigawan… pero yun yung nagtutulak sa akin na pagbutihin ang paglalaro,” said a tearful Santos after the game.
“Yung mga coaches, hindi sila nagsawang gabayan kami sa araw-araw na pagsasama namin sa training. Alam namin na binigay nila ‘yung best nila so nasa amin na ‘yung gawa. Kami ang gagawa para manalo kami,” she added.
“Yung mga ate ko sobrang dinidikitan po sila so naisip ko po na hindi sila nakafocus sa akin, so ‘yun na ‘yung time para maipakita ko ‘yung skills ko, na kaya ko pong makipagtapatan sa kanila,” shared Sierba.
Santos ended the game with a career-high 27 points off 58 per cent shooting inside the three-point arc while Sierba had 18 points off 80 per cent shooting from three.
Their teammate Angelika Soriano likewise contributed heavily, but on the defensive end, tallying six points, seven rebounds, four assists, seven steals, and a block.
Newly-minted Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagduraga led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points.
Ateneo de Manila center Kacey dela Rosa won her second straight season Most Valuable Player and joining her in the Mythical Five are Pastrana, Surada, teammate Sarah Makanjuola, and Louna Ozar of the University of the Philippines.
The scores:
UST 78 – Santos 27, Sierba 18, Pastrana 11, Bron 8, Soriano 6, Danganan 6, Maglupay 2, Tacatac 0, Ambos 0, Serrano 0.
NU 68 – Pagdulagan 16, Clarin 12, Pingol 11, Surada 10, Fabruada 5, Villanueva 5, Betanlo 4, Konateh 3, Canuto 2, Cayabyab 0, Talas 0.
Quarter scores: 20-9, 32-25, 48-49, 78-68
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