Defending champion National University kept its title bid alive after coming away with a 72-70 win over University of Santo Tomas and dragged the series to a rubber match in the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The eight-peat-seeking Lady Bulldogs are looking to close out the season with another crown in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the same venue. 

Camille Clarin delivered another reliable performance and finished with 18 points to go with eight assists as the seven-time champions held on in the dying seconds to fend off the Tigresses' final stand.

Meanwhile, Karl Pingol and Princess Fabruada chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively. 

Angel Surada and Stefanie Berberabe contributed on the defensive end after grabbing 10 rebounds each. 

“Buhay pa kami. We always set a modest goal for our team every time and every day we step on the court. The mindset was just to stay alive. ‘Yun lang, we stayed in the present, we don’t even think of Game 1 or Game 3. Our main focus was Game 2 only. Not even thinking about the result of this game, our focus mainly was ‘yung bits and pieces needed to be done in order to get what we wanted,” NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan said. 

“Proud of the ladies for doing a great job today turning the tide around. Playing for each other and walang nag-quit.” 

The Lady Bulldogs recovered in the third period after trailing through the first half, 40-43. 

NU leaned on its third-quarter 13-2 surge capped by Clarin’s huge and-1 play to build a 57-52 gap with 1:48 remaining. 

With under two minutes to go, graduating Tantoy Ferrer made two of her freebies to pull UST within just a single possession, 68-70. 

But Surada quickly responded with a floater before Kent Pastrana earned two points from the free throw line with 47.3 seconds in the game, 70-72. 

Clarin then was fouled but missed both of her freebies for the assurance, giving the Growling Tigresses another chance to tie the match for a potential overtime or even a win. 

However, Pastrana missed the last-second game-winning triple. 

Pastrana, Ferrer and Rocel Dionisio paced UST with 15 points each. 

The Growling Tigresses are seeking to end a 17-year title drought after last winning the championship in 2006.