By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses faltered to the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 72-71, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 8.

Negrense Kent Jane Pastrana finished with a game-high of 22 points, but committed a costly traveling violation in the endgame as the defending champions UST fell to a 0-1 record in the best-of-three title series.

Cielo Pagdulagan played the heroes’ role for the Lady Bulldogs as she connected on a go-ahead layup to give her team a 72-71 lead on a layup with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Pagdulagan, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year, finished with nine points and five rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs, which can reclaim the UAAP women’s basketball crown in Game 2 on Wednesday, December 11.

Karl Ann Pingol led the way with 18 points, while Camille Clarin added 12 markers for the Lady Bulldogs, which bowed to the Growling Tigresses in the Season 86 championship series.

“I think our commitment to getting a chance to bounce back this year, that’s an added motivation for us to really stay locked in and really work on our game,” NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan said.

Aside from Pastrana, Bridgette Santos also hit double-digits for UST in the defeat with 12 markers./ASC, WDJ

Caption

KENT JANE PASTRANA (UAAP photo)