By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses turned back the Pilipinas Aguilas, 69-64, in Game 2 of the WMPBL finals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Sunday night, April 20.

Negrense Rachelle Ambos stepped up offensively with 13 points, to go with six rebounds, one assist and one steal as the Growling Tigresses tied the best-of-three championship series at 1-1.

“It was a team effort. Hindi lang kami pumayag na basta basta na lang matatapos ‘yung series nang hindi kami lumalaban,” Ambos said during her Player of the Game interview.

“Sinimulan lang namin positivity, ‘yun lang ‘yung naging mindset namin. Lahat din ng mga tinuro sa amin ng coaches, in-apply namin in this game and ito ang naging resulta,” she added.

With the Growling Tigresses holding to a 67-58 lead with more than a minute left in the game, the Aguilas clawed their way back behind Alexis Pana and Nathalia Prado to cut the deficit to 64-67 with 28 seconds left.

The Growling Tigresses managed to increase the lead on the next possession via an inside connection from Isioma Onianwa before they prevented the Aguilas’ last-second three-point heaves.

The winner-take-all Game 3 between the Growling Tigresses and the Aguilas is scheduled for Wednesday night, April 23, at the same venue./ASC, WDJ