MANILA – Defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) moved on the brink of a UAAP High School Girls’ Basketball title repeat after outlasting National University Nazareth School (NUNS), 96-87, in a gripping overtime victory in Game 1 of the finals at the Blue Eagle Gym.
With the championship series now tilted in their favor, the Junior Golden Tigresses are just one win away from securing back-to-back crowns after surviving a physically charged battle that featured nine deadlocks and eight lead changes.
Ilonggas Riri Perez and Lea Pinuela powered UST’s charge, combining for 48 points in a statement performance on the big stage.
Perez, the frontrunner for the season’s Most Valuable Player award, delivered an all-around effort with 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Pinuela added 23 points, six steals, two assists, and a rebound.
“Actually, we talked amongst ourselves, yung team ko, and we kind of really expected the physicality, syempre, you know, we’re playing now for all the marbles and for a championship. So, we reminded each other talaga na it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really, really tough. It should be,” said UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco.
The contest took a dramatic turn late in regulation after a loose-ball scramble triggered a heated confrontation, with NUNS clinging to a 78-76 lead with 3:02 remaining.
Lady Bullpups star Aubrey Lapasaran was ejected after incurring two technical fouls, while Pia Petalcorin and KJ Badajos were each slapped with a technical foul and Janice Oczon was called for an unsportsmanlike foul.
UST seized the momentum shift, storming back from an 80-76 deficit in the closing stretch of regulation. A putback by Kat Insoy, followed by crucial baskets from Pinuela and Perez, forced overtime.
In the extra period, the Junior Golden Tigresses wasted no time asserting control, building an 88-82 cushion with 4:09 left behind consecutive three-pointers from Sandra Abrantes and Petalcorin.
NUNS threatened to close the gap after a layup by Zia Onate and free throws from Bri Katigbak and Rhys Luzana trimmed the lead to 88-86 with 1:45 remaining, but UST countered with a decisive finishing run to seal the victory.
Despite the loss, Lapasaran still finished with a game-high 28 points, along with six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block, while Zaydhen Rosano flirted with a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and eight steals.
UST will try to complete its title defense in Game 2 on Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m. at the same venue./PN
