Like their more experienced schoolmates at National University, the girls of the Lady Bulldogs continued the winning tradition when they ruled the Palarong Pambansa high school basketball competition in Marikina Saturday.
Despite playing with only six players, NU proved it has enough talent to endure the challenge of the visiting team from Cebu, 73-54, and completed a five-game sweep en route to winning the championship.
A first time participant, the NU high school girls team being handled by Camilla Escoto, displayed its superb firepower led by tournament Most Valuable Player Alicia Villanueva and Xyza Pring, who preserved her best game on the final day of the competition.
Pring knocked in 26 points to lead the way for NU, but it was Villanueva who has been a picture of consistency all tournament long.
In the finals, Villanueva went a rebound away from posting a double-double performance as she tallied 16 points on top of nine boards while RM Garcia contributed 13 markers. BJ Villarin had a double-double showing of 10 points and 11 rebounds as the national youth team mainstay proved to be too much.
Ash Abong came away with nine points, but grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.
Villanueva led three of the five NU players in the Mythical Selection, joining Pring and Villarin.
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