MANILA, Philippines — It wasn’t the most perfect of closeouts but National U pulled off the job just the same and swept its way to a UAAP women’s basketball four-peat.
The Lady Bulldogs leaned on a strong finishing kick to rally past a game University of the East, 79-68, and clinch their fourth consecutive diadem via a perfect record yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“This was so hard,” said NU coach Pat Aquino after the Lady Bulldogs stayed spotless through 64 games running dating back to 2014. “UE played a heck of a game.”
After the blowout in Game One, NU encountered a much-tougher challenge from UE this time.
The Lady Warriors seized an early 24-14 lead and even enjoyed the upperhand in the fourth, 58-53, before the Lady Bulldogs asserted themselves on the way to the finish line.
Congolese Rhena Itesi dropped seven in a 13-3 blast that put NU ahead at 66-61. The resilient Lady Warriors threatened anew at 66-68 but the Lady Bulldogs countered with an 11-2 salvo sparked by Janet Sison’s seven to put UE away for good.
“So happy for the girls, Nandun sila, lumalaban til the end (They didn’t give up and fought til the end,” said Aquino.
Finals MVP Trixie Antiquera topscored with 19 for the champions, with Itesi and Ria Nabalan adding 15 and 14, respectively, offsetting the scoring woes of season MVP Jack Animam, who had nine markers but hauled down 23 rebounds.
Ruthlaine Tacula paced UE with 25.