Games Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – UST vs UE (Boys)
10 a.m. – Ateneo vs FEU-D (Boys)
Noon – NUNS vs UPIS (Boys)
2 p.m. – AdU vs DLSZ (Boys)

MANILA — In a thrilling finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) emerged victorious over National University (NU), securing a 71-69 win and reclaiming the title of the most successful UAAP women’s basketball program.

UST sealed the best-of-three title series 2-1, putting an end to NU’s impressive seven-year championship streak.

The Tigresses demonstrated exceptional heart and composure throughout the match, culminating in their 12th overall title, surpassing Far Eastern University’s record of 11 championships.

Coach Haydee Ong commended the resilience of her team, acknowledging NU’s formidable program and praising her players for their well-deserved triumph.

Nikki Villasin’s game-changing fastbreak lay-up, giving UST a 71-69 lead with 11.8 seconds left, proved pivotal in sealing the victory.

Despite NU’s attempts to steal the win, Tin Cayabyab’s missed three-pointer in the final moments marked the end of their dominance that began in 2014.

The Lady Bulldogs, who once held a 15-point lead in the second half, faced a remarkable comeback orchestrated by Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer. Ferrer scored nine of her 19 points in the crucial payoff period, outscoring the entire NU squad.

Coach Ong expressed her elation for the team’s comeback, emphasizing the players’ determination and teamwork.

UST’s success was further highlighted by their resilience in do-or-die games, overcoming challenges in the Final Four against the University of the Philippines to reach the championship stage.

Ferrer, who also contributed 14 rebounds and two assists, expressed her joy in helping UST reclaim the championship. The Tigresses’ victory was a long-awaited moment, with Ferrer recalling the commitment made in 2018 to bring the championship back to España.

Kent Pastrana and Nikki Villasin contributed significantly to the triumph, scoring 16 and 12 points respectively, with Villasin also providing four boards and two assists in her final game for UST.

The tightly contested series, with an average point difference of 2.33, saw the Tigresses take Game 1, 76-72, breaking a 20-game losing streak against the Bulldogs. NU forced a decider with a 72-70 victory in the second game.

In the juniors’ division, UST continued its success with a 75-62 win over La Salle-Zobel, securing a third straight victory after a season-opening defeat.

Defending champion FEU-Diliman also displayed resilience, clinching an 84-82 victory against UP Integrated School and moving into a tie for fourth place at 3-1.

The scores:
UST (71) – Ferrer 19, Pastrana 16, Villasin 12, Tacatac 9, Bron 4, Dionisio 4, Santos 4, Ambos 3, Maglupay 0, Soriano 0, Amatong 0, Serrano 0.
NU (69) – Cayabyab 18, Fabruada 13, Pingol 11, Berberabe 9, Surada 9, Canuto 5, Clarin 2, Konateh 2, Bartolo 0, Betanio 0, Solis 0.
Quarterscores: 19-19, 32-44, 47-61, 71-69