Brigette Santos delivered a stellar performance, scoring a career-high 27 points to lead the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses to a 78-68 victory over the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball finals.
The win, which took place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, ended NU’s undefeated streak this season and forced a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.
Santos Shines Bright
Santos was the epitome of efficiency, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and adding two rebounds, four assists, and two steals. She opened the second quarter with a personal seven-point swing to give UST its biggest lead at 24-9.
Supporting Santos, second-year guard Karylle Sierba turned in a flawless fourth quarter, finishing with 18 points in just 12 minutes of play. Meanwhile, three-time Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Team Effort Pays Off
UST held a slim lead at halftime, 32-25, despite a strong response from NU led by Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagdulagan, who scored seven straight points in the second quarter to cut the deficit to four.
In the third quarter, NU briefly seized the lead, 43-39, but the Tigresses regrouped. They mounted a critical 9-2 run in the fourth, with Pastrana’s back-to-back layups setting the tone.
Late-game heroics from NU’s Camille Clarin, who nailed three consecutive triples in the final minute, weren’t enough to close the gap, as Sierba’s clutch free throws sealed the win for UST.
Coach Haydee Ong Praises Resilience
“Very proud [of the girls] because it was all team effort from defense to offense,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong. “Mayroon kaming mga miscues in our defense that we adjusted. [It was also] one hell of a game from Brigette [Santos] and Karylle [Sierba].”
NU’s Standouts
Pagdulagan led NU with 16 points, while senior big man Clarin added 12 points, including her late-game triples, along with five rebounds and two assists. Teammates Karl Pingol and Angel Surada chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
With the series tied, all eyes will be on the climactic Game 3 as the Growling Tigresses and Lady Bulldogs battle for the championship.