Defending champions UST Growling Tigresses were tested by Adamson Lady Falcons before clinching finals berth against idle NU Lady Bulldogs.
Reigning champions UST were challenged by the Adamson Lady Falcons before they could head back into the finals, churning out a 71-59 win in the stepladder semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Despite being the 2-seed heading into the semis, it was hardly a walk in the park for the Growling Tigresses that squandered a 17-point lead in the second quarter.
After hitting the ground running with a 21-4 lead with 2:41 ticks left in the first quarter, the Lady Falcons recovered with a mighty 33-14 run until halftime to seize a 37-35 lead at the break.
But veteran head coach Haydee Ong manufactured in-game adjustments just in time to flip the script in the second half.
Despite this, UST wasn’t really able to shake off Adamson until late in the fourth quarter before Nicole Danganan scored on back-to-back baskets thanks to Kent Pastrana dimes that pushed the lead to 14, 71-57, with 1:41 remaining in the ball game.
Heading into their third finals appearance in the last four seasons, Ong credited the whole team in the convincing win to earn the right to defend their crown against a dominant Lady Bulldogs squad.
“Let’s give credit also to Adamson, kay Coach Ryan [Monteclaro] and their girls. Talagang they gave us a hard time talaga. Salute to them. It’s all total team effort and at the end of the day, yung defense namin dictated nung second half against Adamson,” said Ong.
Four different UST players finished in double digit scoring, including an almost triple-double from Pastrana with 23 points, 16 boards, eight assists, two steals and one block. CJ Maglupay, meanwhile, added a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. She also had six steals.
After they eked out the victory, MVP runner-up Pastrana, heaved a sigh of relief as they were able to regain their bearings in time against an equally determined Adamson squad.
“Siguro ayun nga, nagrelax kasi kami nung second quarter. Siguro, 'yun nga sinasabi nga namin palagi na 'wag magbigay ng kumpyansa sa kalaban kasi siyempre Adamson alam naman namin na lalaban din 'yan hanggang dulo and hindi rin sila magpapatalo,” said Pastrana.
“And siguro 'yun nga, bumalik kami nung second half, nag-regroup kami ulit kung ano 'yung kailangan namin i-adjust kung ano 'yung mga mali namin. And 'yun, nagsimula kami sa defense and ayun, parang ginawa lang din namin kung ano 'yung kailangan namin gawin,” she added.
Now, UST’s attention turns to the NU Lady Bulldogs who have been idle since November 23 after they achieved a 14-0 elimination round sweep to earn an outright finals berth.
UST are 0-2 against NU this year, but of note, the Lady Bulldogs also swept their elimination round games against the Growling Tigresses when they lost in the finals last year.
Game 1 of the best-of-three affair begins on Sunday, December 8, 1 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.