UAAP: NU pulls off gutsy escape vs. UST to keep 8-peat bid alive

National University showed its championship poise down the stretch and kept its eight-peat bid alive after escaping University of Santo Tomas, 72-70, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball finals on Sunday.

NU and UST will both look to close out the series on Wednesday, December 6, at the same venue.

The Lady Bulldogs showed their defensive paw in the third period which they eventually translated to offense to shrug off an early threat by UST.

The gallant ladies of head coach Aris Dimaunahan unloaded a scorching 12-2 rampage led by back-to-back triples from Aloja Betanio and Marylene Solis as NU mounted a 58-52 cushion. Tantoy Ferrer then buried her own triple to cut UST's deficit to just two ahead of the fourth, 57-59.

Camille Clarin then provided the boost the Lady Bulldogs needed, driving to the basket to give the eight-peat seeking NU a 63-57 lead early in the fourth before Kent Pastrana’s two freebies made it a 70-72 affair with 47.8 ticks left.

Pastrana, though, turned the ball over to the opposition before Clarin missed two free throws that led to a Ferrer rebound. Pastrana had the last possession but went wide on her triple attempt as NU avoided the sweep.

Clarin led the way for NU with 18 points on top of eight assists, two rebounds, and one steal while Karl Pingol chipped in 14 markers, five boards, and two dimes.

Pastrana, Ferrer, and Dionisio all tallied 15 points for UST while Tacky Tacatac chimed in with 12 markers in the loss.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News