By NIKOLE JAVIER
National University breezed past De La Salle, 76-64, to claim its seventh straight UAAP championship in the women’s basketball tournament Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Kristine Cayabyab delivered the goods for the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points to go along with five rebounds to help NU sweep the finals series.
Cayabyab was named Finals MVP after coming up big in NU’s finals campaign.
Angel Surada chipped in 10 points apart from nine rebounds.
The Lady Bulldogs showcased their championship experience and diluted the Lady Archers’ offensive production to gain their biggest advantage of 20 in the fourth with less than four minutes to go, 72-52.
With less than a minute left, La Salle attempted to put itself back into the game with Charmaine Torres’ triple but with time running out and the deficit already too overwhelming to overcome, NU ran away with the in its hands.
The Lady Bulldogs used their championship card experience and brushed off the Lady Archers’ repeated attempts to turn the tide.
It was not lost on NU that La Salle was the team that broke its 108-game winning streak last Nov. 26.
The upper hand that the Lady Archers thought they had over the Lady Bulldogs didn’t manifest itself in the finals series.
Torres’ 29-point finish paced La Salle while Fina Niantcho Tchuido contributed a double-double outing of 13 markers apart from 22 boards.