UAAP: UST draws first blood in women's basketball finals, moves on cusp of dethroning NU

University of Santo Tomas held off seven-time defending champion National University, 76-72, to draw first blood in their best-of-three UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball finals series on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UST was leading for most of the game before Camille Clarin buried a triple that would give the Lady Bulldogs a 51-50 cushion late in the third.

Tacky Tacatac eventually found her form just in time to give the Growling Tigresses the push they needed against the reigning queens.

The UST veteran made flurry of triples in the payoff period, highlighted by back-to-back long bombs that sent them to a 62-56 advantage. She then knocked down another three-pointer halfway through the frame for a crucial 69-62 lead.

NU, however, showed its championship poise to stage a fightback with Gilas Pilipinas Women member Stefanie Berberabe sinking three freebies to cut their deficit to two, 71-73. 

A Rocel Dionisio layup off a Kent Pastrana dish, though, led to a 75-71 lead for UST with 54.6 seconds left to play before Brigette Santos iced it with a split. 

Pastrana led the way with 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, and one assist while Tacatac finished with 14 markers, two dimes, and two swats. 

Tantoy Ferrer, on the other hand, tallied a double-double effort of 13 points and 14 rebounds laced with five assists and two steals as they pulled off an upset against the eight-peat seeking NU.

Clarin, who was fouled out with 5.5 ticks left, paced NU with 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists while Karl Pingol chipped in 11 markers, 10 boards, and one dime. 

The win also allowed UST to end a 20-game losing streak against NU. The last time the España crew won against NU was in the second round of Season 75 in 2012.

UST will look to end NU’s reign on Sunday come Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scores:

UST 76 - Pastrana 15, Tacatac 14, Ferrer 13, Santos 12, Villasin 10, Dionisio 6, Maglupay 4, Amatong 2, Serrano 0, Soriano 0, Ambos 0, Bron 0.

NU 72 - Clarin 18, Pingol 11, Konateh 8, Berberabe 8, Betanio, 7, Surada 5, Cayabyab 5, Fabruada 4, Canuto 3, Solis 3.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News