Perfect 100: NU Lady Bulldogs set record century win mark

National University’s fabled streak has hit the century mark.

In a game that was all but decided in the first 10 minutes of the contest, the Lady Bulldogs celebrated their 100th win in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament with a wire-to-wire 79-44 whipping of University of the Philippines on Wednesday, October 12, at UST Quadricentennial Pavillion.

The streak itself was a product of a heartbreak the Lady Bulldogs experienced nine years ago when it lost in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 76 finals to De La Salle University, 69-61, that took place on October 5, 2013.

Since July 12, 2014, NU has been untouchable, only figuring in a handful of close games during their epic run – including a 78-75 win over University of Santo Tomas last Sunday for win No. 99.

“The goal today was to bounce back from a very bad defensive game against UST the last time out. Today, the emphasis was on defense, on how well we could defend today,” said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan. “And I felt we did better today than the UST game. Like we wanted to reestablish our identity today, which is on defense. Good job to everyone for displaying that kind of defense.”

During the course of the streak that is already at 3,014 days, NU defeated Far Eastern University 16 times; Ateneo, University of the East, and UST 15 times; La Salle 14 times; Adamson 12 times; and, now, UP 13 times.

“Again, this game is an honor to those who played before us, most especially to the one who started this streak – to the architect of this streak – who is my kumpare (good friend), coach Pat Aquino. I know, you will all agree with me that he’s the best women’s basketball coach in the country. And this win is for him,” said Dimaunahan, paying tribute to Aquino who accounted for the first 96 wins of the streak.

This time around, the Lady Bulldogs flat-out dominated, racing to a 16-3 start and never looking back.

Of course, it was graduating Bulldogs Mikka Cacho – who topscored with 15 points – and Annick Tiky who provided the spark, scoring 7 and 6 apiece during NU’s 31-point opening rampage.

Save for rookies Gheralin Ico and Julia Barroquillo, every Lady Bulldog fielded by Dimaunahan scored in the contest with their lead going to as high as 37 points, 79-42, in the final 20 seconds of the game.

Rookie Marylene Solis got 9 points while Princess Fabruada produced 8 points and 8 rebounds. Ann Pingol also got 6 points and 7 boards.

Acrissa Maw was the sole double-digit scorer for the Fighting Maroons, who saw their two-game winning streak snapped to fall to 2-2, with 12 points.

NU will look to sustain the streak on Saturday when it faces Adamson. UP, meanwhile, will look to bounce back on Sunday against Ateneo.

The Scores

NU 79 – Cacho 15, Solis 9, Fabruada 8, Pingol 6, Villareal 6, Tiky 6, Dimaunahan 6, Canuto 4, Clarin 4, Cayabyab 4, Betanio 3, Bartolo 3, Talas 2, Surada 0, Ico 0, Barroquillo 0.

UP 44 – Maw 12, Pesquera 9, Lozada 7, Sanchez 6, Domingo 3, Vingno 3, Rivera 2, Jimenez 1, Lebico 1, Bariquit 0, Tapawan 0, Larrosa 0, Sauz 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarters: 31-6, 47-18, 59-29, 79-44.

– Rappler.com