Tin Cayabyab dropped 26 points as National University powered past the previously unbeaten University of the Philippines, 95-58, in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Eager to atone for a 62-76 defeat to archrival UST Growling Tigresses last Wednesday, the Lady Bulldogs leaned on Cayabyab, Karl Ann Pingol, and Marga Villanueva to build a dominant 27-point second-quarter surge, outscoring UP 38-11—a deficit the Fighting Maroons never recovered from.
With their collective effort, NU climbed into a tie for third place with UP, as both teams now hold identical 2-1 records after the Lady Bulldogs handed the Fighting Maroons their first defeat of the season.
“May part na mabigat yung talo na ‘yon para sa amin bilang defending champions, pero yung mindset namin sa NU basketball is mag-move forward kami palagi kahit ano ‘man yung maging resulta kaya naka-bounce back kami,” said Cayabayab, the Gilas Women 3x3 member who finished with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, five steals, three rebounds, two assists, and one block.
UP attempted to mount a rally late in the second quarter, with Louna Ozar, Camille Nolasco, and Shane Cunanan knocking down key shots to trim the deficit to 52-34 by halftime.
However, NU’s early dominance proved decisive, as Cayabyab spearheaded the Lady Bulldogs’ third-quarter surge, scoring 19 points while holding UP to just five. Entering the final period, NU held a commanding 71-39 lead.
The Lady Bulldogs controlled every facet of the game, limiting UP to just 27.7 percent from the field (18-of-65), forcing 22 turnovers, and recording 16 steals.
“Kami naman, we take it one game at a time. We prepare every game kahit sino kalaban namin, we prepare hard. Ito naman, coming off a loss, we made sure na lahat ng pagkukulang namin from the last game on that loss ay ma-address namin,” NU head coach DA Olan said.
Pingol finished with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and three assists, while Villanueva contributed 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, with six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Marylene Solis added 10 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Angel Surada posted nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
NU looks to continue its winning ways against Adamson University on Wednesday, October 8, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Meanwhile, UP, which opened the season with back-to-back wins over Adamson and University of the East, was handed a wake-up call and now aims to regroup against Ateneo on the same date and venue.
Marielle Vingno led the Fighting Maroons with 13 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Cunanan narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds, adding one assist.
Ozar was limited to nine points on 4-of-11 shooting with six turnovers, while Achrissa Maw and Shanna Tapawan chipped in eight points each in the losing effort.
The Scores:
NU (95) - Cayabyab 26, Pingol 14, Villanueva 11, Solis 10, Surada 9, Betanio 5, Canindo 5, Garcia 4, Alterado 4, D. Medina 3, Pring 2, S. Medina 2, Ico 0.
UP (58) - Vingno 13, Cunanan 10, Ozar 9, Maw 8, Tapawan 8, Nolasco 4, Barba 3, Solitario 2, Mejasco 1, Santos 0, Pascua 0, Mendoza 0, Castro 0, Evangelista 0, Catequista 0.
Quarterscores: 28-10, 52-34, 71-39, 95-58.