By CARLO ANOLIN
National University completed a three-peat after holding off second-seeded University of Santo Tomas, 21-18, in the final of the UAAP Season 84 women’s 3×3 basketball tournament6 Friday at the CaSoBe Resort in Calatagan, Batangas.
Tin Cayabyab’s heroics paved the way for the Lady Bulldogs third straight title as she hit a putback shot off a Camille Clarin miss.
NU only needed one point to win with one minute and one second left.
Completing the three-peat cast for NU are Angel Surada and Ann Pingol.
In the semifinals, NU turned back fourth-seeded Ateneo, 21-20, UST routed No. 3 squad UP, 21-11, behind the efforts of Eka Soriano.
In the men’s side, UST erased a nine-point deficit behind the efforts of Sherwin Concepcion and Nic Cabañero to thwart La Salle, 21-20, and capture the title.
Leading only by a point, 18-17, Ben Phillips responded with a two-pointer of his own to put the Archers on the cusp of winning the title.
But Cabañero showed steely nerves and fired another one from beyond the arc before Concepcion iced the game with a game-winning deuce with 2:15 left.
Concepcion, who was hailed Finals Most Valuable Player, finished with 12 points, all from deep, while Cabañero had four points. Roce Mantua and Bryan Santos complete UST’s champion cast.
La Salle advanced to the final by outlasting fourth-seeded National University, 19-17,
