Defending champions UST Growling Tigresses issue a strong response to the NU Lady Bulldogs in Game 2, forcing a do-or-die for the UAAP Season 87 championship.
The UST Growling Tigresses rode the coattails of a career-high 27 points from Brigette Santos to drag the NU Lady Bulldogs into the deepwater, 78-68, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
After once again squandering a double digit lead, UST was able to regain its bearings thanks to Santos’ consistent offense, plus the timely explosion from rookie Karylle Sierba who scored 15 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter to hand NU its first loss of the season after 15 straight wins.
The two players kept UST afloat despite a relative subpar showing from Kent Pastrana, who ended up with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Nicole Danganan provided the dagger triple with 34.7 ticks left that put the champion Tigresses up by 11, 76-65, to cap a 10-3 run to decide the game.
Newly-crowned Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagdulagan paced the Lady Bulldogs in the losing effort with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
UST and NU battle for all the marbles in Game 3 on Sunday, December 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.