Three straight championships. 20 straight wins. Undefeated. National University continued its UAAP 3x3 domination by outlasting second seed three-woman University of Santo Tomas, 21-18, in the Season 84 women's Final for their third consecutive crown, Friday at the CaSoBe Resort here.
Needing just a point for the win, Camille Clarin took a deuce but missed. However, Tin Cayabyab was there for the stickback and the title with 1:01 to spare.
Tantoy Ferrer of the Growling Tigresses hurt her left knee in their semis matchup against University of the Philippines. She tried to play but limped throughout her 56 seconds on the floor against NU.
"Akin na 'yun. Talagang nasa puso at isip ko na na kahit anong mangyari hindi ako mapapagod. 'Yung last shot na 'yun inaalay ko na rin 'yun para sa teammates ko kasi deserved talaga namin ito," said Cayabyab on her game-winner.
Clarin did it all with eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, and a block. Cayabyab added six points and seven rebounds.
Angel Surada and Ann Pingol completed the gold-blooded quarter of NU.
Jovylyn Pangilinan paced UST with 14 points.
In the semifinals, NU fended off fourth seed Ateneo de Manila University's last-second rally, 21-20.
After a deuce by Blue Eagle Jhazmin Joson and a layup by Gemina Miranda that knotted the game at 20, the Lady Bulldogs went to Surada for the game-winning lay-in with four seconds left.
Cayabyab led NU with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a block, while Joson tallied 11 points for Ateneo.
Meanwhile, UST entered the Final after silencing third-ranked University of the Philippines in the semis, 21-11.
Eka Soriano, who finished the game with a two-pointer at the 1:51 mark, got seven points and three rebounds for the Growling Tigresses.
The Scores:
Semifinals 1 vs 4
NU 21 - Cayabyab 10, Clarin 6, Surada 3, Pingol 2.
Ateneo 20 - Joson 11, Miranda 6, Villacruz 2, Nieves 1.
Time: Surada (9:56)
Semifinals 2 vs 3
UST 21 - Pangilinan 7, Soriano 7, Bron 4, Ferrer 3.
UP 11 - Bariquit 5, Maw 3, Larrosa 2, Domingo 1.
Time: Soriano 2 (8:09)
Final
NU 21 - Clarin 8, Cayabyab 6, Pingol 4, Surada 3.
UST 18 - Pangilinan 14, Soriano 3, Bron 1, Ferrer 0.
Time: Cayabyab (8:59) (Dennis Lachica, Sportsmanila Photojournalist)