Camille Naredo

Lea Pinuela of UST in action against NU Nazareth in the UAAP Season 88 girls' basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media

Lea Pinuela of UST in action against NU Nazareth in the UAAP Season 88 girls' basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

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UAAP Season 88

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MANILA -- Defending champion University of Santo Tomas denied National University Nazareth School&#x27;s bid for an elimination round sweep in the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; basketball tournament on Sunday.The Junior Growling Tigresses came away with a 73-71 win at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City, in what was a preview of the best-of-3 Finals series between the two squads. Despite the absence of head coach Sen Dysangco due to a one-game suspension, the Junior Growling Tigresses saw Lea Pinuela, Sabel Anacan, and Pia Petalcorin rise to the occasion, exacting revenge against the Lady Bullpups. NU Nazareth had beaten UST, 74-62, when they played last February 1.Both UST and NUNS ended the elimination round with 5-1 win-loss records.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772981621789UAAP S88 U19 GIRLS BB - LEA PINUELA-3348.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Lea Pinuela of UST in action against NU Nazareth in the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Lea Pinuela of UST in action against NU Nazareth in the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>&quot;This is a big confidence boost for the players coming into the finals because we got this versus NUNS. It is a very tough game, and I think it is a good experience na ganito kadikit yung laro namin. Nakita nila kung gaano kahirap yung game, and at the same time, the girls are always ready, and this will give a lot of confidence come the finals,&quot; said assistant coach Charlene Javier, who stepped in for Dysangco.UST appeared on track for a dominant revenge, with a Riri Perez layup and a six-point run by Anacan — built on an and-one inside basket and a triple — sending NUNS into a 17-point, 54-37 hole at the 6:16 mark of the third quarter.However, the Lady Bullpups came alive in the payoff period, unleashing a 12-2 run capped by a Zaydhen Rosano floater and an Aubrey Lapasaran three-pointer, trimming the deficit to four, 63-59, with 4:37 left on the clock.Thanks to their strong start and third-quarter surge, UST managed to withstand NUNS’ late rally. Crucial baskets by Anacan, Petalcorin, Pinuela, and Sandra Abrantes kept the Growling Tigresses ahead, despite late triples by Rosano that cut the lead to 73-71 with 21.3 seconds remaining.Pinuela finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals, while Anacan also scored 17 points alongside seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal.Petalcorin added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Perez was limited to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting with four turnovers, but contributed eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.For the Lady Bullpups, Rosano led with 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and six steals, followed by Lapasaran with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.Zane Singson was one point shy of a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds, along with two steals and one assist. Ruiza Olmos and Bri Katigbak added six and five points, respectively.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>UST (73) - Pinuela 17, Anacan 17, Petalcorin 14, Perez 9, Oczon 5, Insoy 3, Labay 3, Talla 3, Abrantes 2, Hew 0, Calig-onan 0.NUNS (71) - Rosano 21, Lapasaran 20, Singson 9, Olmos 6, Katigbak 5, Mallari 4, Badajos 3, Onate 3, Sales 0, Agad 0, Luzana 0.Quarterscores: 25-15, 44-34, 61-47, 73-71.

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas denied National University Nazareth School's bid for an elimination round sweep in the #UAAPSeason88 girls' basketball tournament on Sunday.

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas denied National University Nazareth School's bid for an elimination round sweep in the #UAAPSeason88 girls' basketball tournament on Sunday.

UAAP: UST denies NU Nazareth's bid for elims sweep in girls' basketball

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UAAP: UST denies NU Nazareth's bid for elims sweep in girls' basketball

ABS-CBN News

Published March 08, 2026 11:01 PM PHT

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