The Lady Bulldogs had to grind it out against a very game foe.
There was no grand game plan for the NU Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 of the finals of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament.
There were no big adjustments neither. But there were bits and pieces that had to be done here and there if the Lady Bulldogs were to extend their dynastic reign in the women’s game.
They got those bits and pieces done for sure in Game 2—at least just enough to eke out a hard-earned, nerve-wracking 72-70 victory over the persistent UST Growling Tigresses.
“Today’s mindset was just to stay alive. ‘Yun lang. Stay in the present—we don’t think of Game 1, we don’t think of Game 3. Our focus is Game 2 only. Not even thinking about the results of this game. Our focus was ‘yung bits and pieces that needed to be done in order to get the results that we want,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan about the team’s collective mindset going to Game 2.
The Lady Bulldogs got the bits and pieces done, all right.
They weathered an early UST storm.
They weathered a second UST storm… then another… and another.
“Although they took an early lead, walang nag-crumble sa amin, and that goes to show ‘yung character namin,” Dimaunahan added. “Gusto talaga namin to live and fight another day.”
Then, the Lady Bulldogs took the lead. And they held on to it, staving off one UST comeback after another—doing just enough every time.
It wasn’t pretty. Neither was it a masterclass. But NU got the job done—bit by bit, piece by piece.
Now, it is off to Game 3.