Unbeaten and well-rested, the top-seeded UST Growling Tigresses clash with rivals NU Lady Bulldogs to kick off the high-stakes UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals series.
Returning from a nine-day layoff, Karylle Sierba and the UST cross paths with defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tipoff is at 11:30 a.m.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | UAAP Season 88 basketball guide, where to watch, highlights, more]
The Growling Tigresses enter the best-of-three championship series as the league’s top seed, making history after completing a 14-game elimination round sweep.
The Growling Tigresses secured their third straight Finals appearance with a commanding 101–84 win over the FEU Lady Tamaraws, powered by the combined efforts of Sierba, Coi Danganan, and Oma Onianwa.
Sierba led the way with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Danganan added 15 points and Onianwa came close to a double-double with 14 points and nine boards.
The team’s dominance was clear throughout the eliminations, posting an average winning margin of 32.71 points per game — the program’s first such feat since the UAAP began officially tracking statistics in 2003.
[ALSO READ: Back to work for UST as Tigresses wait for Finals foe after UAAP elims sweep]
Now, the Growling Tigresses aim to shake off the rust from their extended break and extend their mastery over NU, a team they defeated twice during the elimination round.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]