Lady Bulldogs to face Lady Tigresses in third straight Finals after Surada’s game-winning free throw

Angel Surada’s cold-blooded game-winning free throw with 0.6 seconds left propelled the NU Lady Bulldogs to a 67-66 escape over the Ateneo Blue Eagles and into a third straight UAAP Finals showdown with the UST Growling Tigresses at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Dec. 3.

The Lady Bulldogs, who entered the stepladder as the No. 2 seed after a 12-2 elimination finish, booked their 11th consecutive Finals appearance and set up a title rematch against a UST squad that swept the eliminations.

NU found itself in deep trouble after trailing 65-57 with just over two minutes remaining before piecing together a determined comeback that swung the momentum back to the defending champions.

Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, and Marga Villanueva conspired for a nine-point run that knotted the game at 66-all, giving NU a lifeline heading into the final minute.

Ateneo missed two crucial attempts from Kacey Dela Rosa, opening the door for a potential NU game-winner that initially fell short when Pingol’s three-point attempt bounced off with under a second left.

Surada battled for the rebound, absorbed contact from Ateneo import Sarah Makanjoula, and earned a trip to the line with the season hanging in the balance.

She missed the first shot but calmly sank the second, sealing NU’s return to the championship stage and sending the blue-and-gold gallery into celebration.

UST, unbeaten in 14 games, awaits in a much-anticipated best-of-three Finals series opening Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Big Dome.

Stats from UAAP