Defending champion National University displayed championship composure in the clutch, rallying from a six-point deficit in the final 2:35 to edge third-ranked Ateneo de Manila University, 67-66, and secure a spot in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs, the second seed in the stepladder playoffs with a 12-2 record, advanced to the Finals for the 11th consecutive season.
They will once again face the still-unbeaten University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses in the best-of-three championship series, set to begin this Saturday, December 6, also at the Big Dome.
It will be the third-straight Finals showdown between UST and NU, with the Growling Tigresses having ended the Lady Bulldogs’ seven-year reign in Season 86 before NU reclaimed the championship in Season 87.
UST secured an outright Finals berth after completing a sweep of the 14-game elimination round.
“Speechless. Sabi ko nga, we were not playing that well during this game, but ang positive thing for this game is our players, everybody, did not quit," NU first-year head coach DA Olan said.
"Hindi sila sumuko hanggang dulo kahit things are not going our way. Yung kagustuhan manalo, hindi ko na maituturo sa kanila ‘yon — sila mismo, they did not quit hanggang final buzzer."
The Blue Eagles looked poised to reach the Finals for the first time since Season 78 in 2015, as three consecutive triples by Camille Malagar and Hannah Lopez gave Ateneo an eight-point, 65-57 lead with 4:09 remaining.
However, the Lady Bulldogs methodically fought back, executing a pivotal 9-1 run capped by three consecutive inside finishes from presumptive MVP Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, and Marga Villanueva to tie the game at 66-all with 64 seconds left.
After consecutive misses by Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa, the game seemed destined for overtime — until a dramatic finish unfolded in the final two seconds.
With Pingol missing a potential game-winning triple, Angel Surada boxed out and drew a foul on Nigerian center Sarah Makanjoula during her putback attempt, earning a trip to the free throw line with 0.6 seconds remaining.
Surada missed her first attempt but, determined not to let her tenure with the Lady Bulldogs end prematurely, drained the go-ahead free throw to seal the hard-fought victory.
“Unang-una, gusto ko pasalamatan yung coaches and teammates sa effort. We dedicate this game to coach DA. Proud ako sa mga ka-teammates ko sa mga effort nila dahil walang bumitaw sa kanila until the final buzzer,” said Surada, who finished with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, eight rebounds, six steals, two assists, and one block.
Villanueva led NU in scoring with 16 points, including four triples, alongside three rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Cayabyab added 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Pingol contributed 10 points, six rebounds, five steals, and one assist. Aloha Betanio had a quiet 4-point outing on 2-of-7 shooting but added eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Ateneo had reached the stepladder semifinals with a narrow 66-56 win over the Adamson University Lady Falcons last Sunday, November 30, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blue Eagles ultimately settled for bronze — the program’s first since Season 78 in 2015 — after three consecutive fourth-place finishes from Seasons 85 to 87.
Dela Rosa led Ateneo with 18 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Malagar also scored 18 points with six rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
Kai Oani added nine points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and Makanjoula finished with seven points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, two assists, and one steal.
Ateneo has not defeated NU since September 26, 2012, a 50-48 playoff win for the No. 4 seed — the last time the Jhocson-based program failed to reach the top four.
The Blue Eagles will retain most of their core next season, with only Gracie Batongbakal and Sandra Villacruz set to graduate from this year’s batch.
The Scores:
NU (67) - Villanueva 16, Surada 15, Cayabyab 15, Pingol 10, Solis 6, Betanio 4, D. Medina 1, Garcia 0, Pring 0, S. Medina 0.
Ateneo (66) - Dela Rosa 18, Malagar 18, Oani 9, Makanjoula 7, Lopez 5, Villacruz 4, Batongbakal 3, De Luna 2, Cancio 0, Olivenza 0.
Quarterscores: 12-12, 34-36, 49-48, 67-66.