Camille Naredo

The UST Junior Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 girls' basketball finals against NU Nazareth, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media

The UST Junior Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 girls' basketball finals against NU Nazareth, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

Article (news)

UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773581178722UAAP S88 19U GB - UST vs. NUNS - UST Team - 1709.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UST Junior Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; basketball finals against NU Nazareth, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>The UST Junior Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; basketball finals against NU Nazareth, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas is on the brink of repeating as champions in UAAP girls&#x27; basketball after taking a 96-87 overtime win over National University Nazareth School in Game 1 of the Season 88 Finals on Sunday.Riri Perez and Lea Pinuela steered the Junior Growling Tigresses to victory at the Blue Eagle Gym, combining for 48 points.The game featured nine deadlocks and eight lead changes, but when the dust settled, it was UST that took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.Perez, the presumptive MVP, finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Pinuela added 23 points, six steals, two assists, and one rebound.&quot;We reminded each other talaga na it&#x27;s not going to be easy. It&#x27;s going to be really, really tough. It should be,&quot; UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco said after returning from a one-game suspension.With NUNS holding a slim 78-76 lead with 3:02 left in regulation, a scuffle over a loose ball escalated between the two rivals. Presumptive Elite Team member Aubrey Lapasaran was ejected after committing two technical fouls, while Pia Petalcorin and KJ Badajos were called for one technical each, and Janice Oczon committed an unsportsmanlike foul.The ejection of Lapasaran, who finished with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block, proved pivotal. UST fought back from an 80-76 deficit, with a Kat Insoy putback and consecutive inside hits from Pinuela and Perez forcing overtime.In the extra period, UST seized control early, building a six-point, 88-82 lead at the 4:09 mark behind back-to-back three-pointers from Sandra Abrantes and Petalcorin.The Lady Bullpups tried to rally, with a Zia Onate layup and one free throw each from Bri Katigbak and Rhys Luzana trimming the lead to 88-86 with 1:45 remaining. But the Junior Growling Tigresses displayed championship poise down the stretch.UST closed the game with a 9-1 run, capped by clutch baskets from Abrantes, Petalcorin, and Perez that restored a 94-87 advantage with 47.2 seconds left, putting them on the cusp of their second UAAP girls’ basketball championship.&quot;These are kids trying to navigate and learn how to handle pressure or ito sa ating basketball as a microcosm of life. So, naintindihan ko sometimes emotions get the best of us. But again, what&#x27;s important is you have to be able to control these emotions. And with how they reacted kanina, I think that they have really learned how to do that,&quot; said Dysangco.The Junior Growling Tigresses aim to complete their title defense when Game 2 tips off next Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m., at the same venue.Oczon also contributed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, alongside four assists, two steals, and one block, while Petalcorin finished with eight points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Abrantes added seven points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.For NUNS, presumptive Elite Team member Zaydhen Rosano nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and eight steals, along with four assists and one block. Katigbak posted 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Badajos and Olmos added eight and seven points, respectively.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>UST (96) - Perez 25, Pinuela 23, Oczon 18, Petalcorin 8, Abrantes 7, Labay 5, Talla 4, Anacan 2, Insoy 2, Calig-onan 2, Arciaga 0.NUNS (87) - Lapasaran 28, Rosano 19, Katigbak 10, Badajos 8, Olmos 7, Onate 5, Mallari 4, Sales 3, Singson 2, Luzana 1, Agad 0.Quarterscores: 20-20, 43-44, 61-61, 82-82, 96-87.

#UAAPSeason88 | University of Santo Tomas is on the brink of repeating as champions in UAAP girls' basketball after taking a 96-87 overtime win over National University Nazareth School in Game 1 of the Season 88 Finals on Sunday.

#UAAPSeason88 | University of Santo Tomas is on the brink of repeating as champions in UAAP girls' basketball after taking a 96-87 overtime win over National University Nazareth School in Game 1 of the Season 88 Finals on Sunday.

UAAP: UST downs NU Nazareth in Game 1, on brink of repeat in girls' hoops

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Basketball

UAAP: UST downs NU Nazareth in Game 1, on brink of repeat in girls' hoops

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 15, 2026 09:29 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

basketball

UAAP

UAAP Season 88

UAAP basketball

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.