At A Glance
- National University continued its rise on the international stage after ruling the 11th Xiamen International Elite University Basketball Championship in China recently.
(NU Lady Bulldogs Women's Basketball)
National University continued its rise on the international stage after ruling the 11th Xiamen International Elite University Basketball Championship in China recently.
With their fangs sharpened by their second-place finish in BLIA Cup last week, the Lady Bulldogs were relentless and never let the chance slip away, hacking out a 60-58 escape over National Taiwan Normal University in the final to capture the crown.
The reigning UAAP women's basketball champion exacted revenge on the Taiwanese school which was the only team that beat the Jhocson-based squad (70-65) in the elimination round.
Marga Villanueva shone the brightest for NU as she delivered timely hits and an overall superb performance that led her to winning the Finals MVP plum.
Despite competing without two of their stars in Cielo Pagdulagan and Angel Surada due to their Gilas Pilipinas duties, the Lady Bulldogs were unstoppable in the five-day long meet.
Prior to its title win, NU got the best out of Australia UACK and Huazhong University of Science and Technology in the elims before outlasting CITIC Taiwan in the semifinal.
"Congratulations, Lady Bulldogs! You've once again proven what it means to be champions — in heart, in hustle, and in history," the team wrote on its social media post.
It was a perfect rebound as well for the Lady Bulldogs after suffering a 77-68 final loss to Japan Women’s College of Physical Education in the BLIA Cup University Basketball Invitational in Taiwan last July 6.