‘Tides have turned’: NU, UST switch roles in UAAP Season 87 women’s hoops

MANILA, Philippines – After UST handed NU a bitter end to its women’s basketball  dynasty last year, the longtime dominant Lady Bulldogs and the defending champion Growling Tigresses interestingly switched roles this UAAP Season 87.

For the Lady Bulldogs, the hunger for glory has never been this high following a tough loss in last year’s best-of-three finale.

“The team has been really hungry to win it again,” said NU head coach Aries Dimaunahan in Filipino. “We just have to move forward, and as competitors, we always want to bounce back from defeat.”

“Hopefully, our focus will last the entire season, not like last year when we fell short at the very end,” he added.

The Lady Bulldogs were the undisputed queens of UAAP hoops from 2014 to 2022 — at one point, even riding a 108-game winning streak — before the Growling Tigresses mustered the team that eventually toppled their dynasty last year. 

Now in an unfamiliar territory after almost a decade of dominance, NU now faces the reality of another gritty challenge. 

“It feels like the tides have turned, right? That’s the beauty of competition. You never know, sometimes you’re on top, at the bottom, or in the middle. That’s what keeps competitors on their toes,” Dimaunahan said. 

NU lost Stef Berberabe and Bianca Alcantara from its roster but kept most of its core players, including Gilas Pilipinas Women star Camille Clarin along with Karl Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, Angel Surada, and Gambian big Jainaba Konateh.

With an intact roster, Dimaunahan shrugged off the pressure of regaining the title it once held for almost a decade. 

“There is always pressure for us, wherever we may be. This time, I think we just have to come together and play as one,” Dimaunahan said.

Meanwhile, UST braces for tougher competition in its title defense as the team embraces the role of the hunted this season.

“This will be a nice challenge for us since, as champions, we have to work harder, you have to have more teamwork, more chemistry. I think those were the vital parts for us to retain the championship,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong, whose Tigresses ended the seven-season reign of NU last year. 

As the defending champions, Ong acknowledged that they are in uncharted waters, but the longtime UST coach believes her team is ready to continue what they started last season. 

“I think the team knows that we are now targeted,” she said. “All the teams will be looking for [us]. Everyone would prepare for us.”

“NU, especially, they did not lose much of their players from last year. They’re still a formidable team,” she added.

The Tigresses saw the departure of last year’s Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer and championship game hero Nikki Villasin in the offseason. 

However, the team retained its top guards Kent Pastrana, Tacky Tacatac, and former MVP Eka Soriano, whom Ong described as UST’s “cornerstones” for this season. 

With increased expectations, Ong hopes her team will remain level-headed throughout Season 87. 

“We want to be calm and focused as we go through the season. That is something crucial for our season.” – Rappler.com