The UST Growling Tigresses were the first to blemish the NU Lady Bulldogs’ record in UAAP Season 86. Can they score a repeat of their Game Three success last year?
The UST Growling Tigresses and the NU Lady Bulldogs are set to culminate their heated rivalry in UAAP Season 87 with a winner-take-all Game Three in the finals of the women’s tournament slated on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Finding themselves in an almost identical situation from last year, head coach Haydee Ong and the Growling Tigresses are hoping to replicate what happened in Game Three in Season 86 — where they successfully ended NU’s reign in seven UAAP seasons.
Though there are some differences to what led to Game Three this time around, with the defending champions having to force NU’s hand in Game Two to keep themselves alive, there will be a lot to take away from how they handled the decider last year.
Before UST and NU meet for one final time this year, let’s take a look back at how Game Three transpired in Season 86 and how the Growling Tigresses overcame tall odds to establish themselves as the new queens of UAAP women’s basketball.
UST def. NU, 71-69
December 6, 2023
Smart Araneta Coliseum
Finally, champions.
That was the overwhelming feeling of the UST Growling Tigresses as they stormed back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to clinch their first title since 2006, slaying the almighty NU Lady Bulldogs in the winner-take-all Game Three of the Finals at the Big Dome.
All seemed lost when UST found themselves down 14 points, 47-61, early in the fourth quarter, but with the help of Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer, and graduating guard Nikki Villasin, the Growling Tigresses accomplished the improbable.
After years of being manhandled by the cagers from Jhocson, Ferrer spurred a UST comeback from 14 points down to signal a game-changing run for the Growling Tigresses, which was punctuated by a go-ahead basket from Villasin in the dying moments of the ballgame.
Villasin converted on a fast break attempt on a delivery from Rocel Dionisio with nine ticks remaining to break a 69-all deadlock, competing the UST comeback which left the Lady Bulldogs stunned.
Despite a try from three-point land by NU’s Kristine Cayabyab in the next possession, the shot would miss everything to complete UST’s Cinderella run and end NU’s long-time reign in UAAP women’s basketball.
Fast forward to present day, UST were once again streak busters after handing the Lady Bulldogs their first loss of UAAP Season 87, to force the winner-take-all Game Three.
Though now missing the two key heroes in Ferrer and Villasin, UST hopes to come out with the same result this time around — that is, they keep the crown in España.
With the likes of Kent Pastrana, Brigette Santos, Tacky Tacatac, and Karylle Sierba on UST’s side, they’re ready to get into battle with NU’s Camille Clarin, Karl Pingol, and Angel Surada.
Past matchups aside, UST and NU enter Game Three on Sunday on level ground. For UST head coach Ong, they’ll simply need to one-up their opponents on what they control — their effort.
“Last year kasi we won the first game, then lost the second. I think, walang advantage or disadvantage na samin sa NU. We will just play harder para makuha namin yung Game 3. It's all in our mindset na we'll do our best para makuha namin ulit yung do-or-die game on Sunday.” she said.
UST and NU’s titanic clash tips off at 1 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 15.
The game will be aired on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.