By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses tasted their first defeat of the season — and it came when the stakes were highest — as the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs scored an 84-79 win in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, December 6.

The Lady Bulldogs dismantled UST’s previously unshakable aura, smothering Negrense Kent Jane Pastrana in the clutch and forcing the Tigresses into unfamiliar, chaotic territory.

Down 67-70 in the fourth quarter, Marga Villanueva detonated back-to-back triples that flipped the game and the momentum, pushing NU ahead 73-70.

From there, the Bulldogs never loosened their grip.

Every UST attempt to rally was slammed shut — highlighted by Angel Surada’s cold-blooded inside finish.

The steady free throws of Aloha Betanio and Kristine Cayabyab iced the game at 84-78 with 27 seconds remaining.

Surada torched UST with 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists.

Villanueva backed her up with 17, while Cayabyab and Marylene Solis chipped in 11 each.

NU now stands one win away from sealing a second straight championship in Game 2 on Wednesday, December 10.

Eka Soriano finished with 20 points for UST, while Negrense Pastrana — the centerpiece of the Tigresses’ attack all year — was bottled up to just 15 as NU’s pressure defense suffocated her options.

Karylle Sierba, Bridgette Santos and Isioma Onianwa added 14, 11 and 10 points.

The loss ends UST’s immaculate 14-0 elimination-round sweep and snaps their season-long dominance in one decisive blow./ASC, WDJ