UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals MVP and Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagdulagan of the NU Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.
MANILA — Cielo Pagdulagan delivered the goods for National University in her first-ever UAAP women's basketball Finals series.
The 5-foot-5, 20-year-old guard was at the forefront of the Lady Bulldogs' redemption story in the Season 87 championship stage as she led them to a title-clinching 78-73 Game 3 win against University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pagdulagan poured in a game-high 21 points as well as nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals, and this pushed her averages to 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals, earning her the Finals MVP plum in just her rookie year.
READ: NU completes redemption, triumphs over UST to reclaim women's crown
"Inisip ko lang is ibigay yung best ko. Lahat ng kaya ko maitulong, talagang binigay ko lang," said the former NU-Nazareth standout.
"Gusto ko umalis yung mga senior namin na champion kami, at 'di nila 'to makakalimutan," she added.
Pagdulagan made waves immediately in the women's division even before the Best-of-3 Finals series against the Growling Tigresses.
She scattered 9.86 markers, 5.0 boards, 2.0 dimes, and 1.3 steals in their perfect run in the elimination rounds, and these numbers allowed her to earn the Season 87 Rookie of the Year citations.
"Siyempre po may pressure, pero yung pressure kinakain ko lang," answered Cielo when asked about the weight of contributing right away for the Lady Bulldogs who lost to UST in the Season 86 Finals.
"Sabi ko sa sarili ko, everything happens for a reason. Kaya ako nandito sa NU kasi alam ko na matutulungan ko yung mga Ates ko."
This was the same hunger that Pagdulagan showed after Brigette Santos' career-high 27 points torched them in Game 2, and she vowed that this would not be the same case in today's decider.
"Lalo na nung Game 2, maraming na-score sa akin si Santos, hindi ko siya nabantayan ng maayos. Ngayon, talagang inisip ko na hindi ka makaka-score sa akin," said Cielo, who played a huge role in limiting Santos to only eight markers on 3-of-15 shooting from the field.
The young guard also showed leadership to her teammates as prior to the decider, she was among those who challenged them to step up to avoid a repeat of their heartbreak last year.
"Sinabi namin sa isa't isa na last game na. Last year, nangyari na sa kanila 'to, so alam na dapat namin yung ia-adjust. I'm very happy na walang sumuko, at lahat binigay yung best effort kahit merong mga masakit na," Pagdulagan shared.
However, it was not only on those ends that Cielo showed impressive performance in Game 3.
Pagdulagan also poured in 10 of her total points in the third canto, the half wherein they broke away from UST, and this was due to her eagerness to not only get the win, but also send her graduating teammates a fitting exit to their UAAP careers.
"Inisip ko lang yung laging sinasabi sa akin ng mga teammates ko," pointed out Pagdulagan. "Kailangan ko mag step up, at na hindi lang dahil rookie ako eh pwede lang ako [ibasta-basta]. Dapat may pride ako."
And with the performance that Cielo showed in her rookie year, NU coach Aris Dimaunahan is confident that her young star would be a pillar for the Lady Bulldogs in the years to come.
"Masaya ako na si Cielo, nag-end up dito sa NU," said Coach Aris. "For sure, maraming kumukuha sa kanya, peros still, pinili niya yung NU. Nakita natin kung gaano siya kagaling, pero marami pang igagaling 'tong bata na 'to, and marami pa akong maituturo sa bata na 'to."
"This is just a start for her. Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya na stay humble, keep working, and malayo ang mararating niya dito sa UAAP," added Dimaunahan.
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