Riri Perez official

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- Lea Pinuela proud to be part of Elite Team, applauds Perez’s Finals MVP triumph

Lea Pinuela is now a two-time high school champion for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Growling Tigresses after sweeping the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) Lady Bullpups in back-to-back seasons.

Pinuela, who averaged 11.17 points, 3.83 rebounds, and 4.48 assists in six elimination games, expressed happiness at being part of the Elite Team.

"Syempre sobrang saya kasi all my hard work and sacrifices paid off. Sabi nga po ni Coach Sen, kailangan lang talaga namin suportahan ang isa’t isa bilang team. Hindi ko rin po ito makakamit kung wala po ang suporta at tiwala ng teammates at coaches ko. This achievement motivates me to keep improving and give my best [in] every game,” Pinuela told Philippine Basketball Updates.

The 17-year-old guard also added that she is grateful and proud to represent the Pontifical and Royal University.

“Sobrang grateful and proud ako to represent my team," she added.

The sophomore standout out of Zarraga, Iloilo, who averaged 18.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the Finals, added that fellow Ilongga Rhiane Perez deserved the Finals MVP for the impact she had on the team, even though the numbers were close.

"Para sa akin po, she deserved the Finals MVP because she really performed well and made a big impact sa team po namin. Bilang player po, lagi nga pong sinasabi ng papa ko sa akin na it’s not just about individual awards. Mas importante po kung paano ko matutulungan ang team ko para manalo. Masaya po ako para kay [Rhiane Perez] kasi deserved niya po talaga [yun]," she added.

The reigning Season and Finals MVP averaged a double-double in the Finals with 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games.

The 5-foot-4 Pinuela, who will be entering her third and final season as a high school player in Season 89, wants to leave a legacy in high school basketball and will carry the same mentality she learned from head coach Arsenio Dysangco as she moves on to college come Season 90.

"I always give my best in every game. I want to leave a legacy as a high school player by applying everything I’ve learned and guiding my teammates to do their best, especially as we defend our title. I’ll carry the same character and lessons I learned from Coach Sen into college, because that’s what shaped me into who I am today."

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- Philippine Basketball Updates

all for UST🐯

- Rhiane Perez turns pressure into motivation after MVP, Finals MVP, Elite team honors

For the second straight year, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Growling Tigresses swept the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) Lady Bullpups in the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Basketball Finals at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

The Junior Growling Tigresses outlasted the Lady Bullpups in an OT classic in Game 1, in a foul-heavy contest, 96-87. While in Game 2, the ladies from España mounted from 11 points down before halftime to complete the mission to claim back-to-back Girls' Basketball titles, 76-74.

Rhiane Perez becomes the second straight player to win the Girls' Basketball Season MVP and Finals MVP after fellow Tigress Barby Dajao won both awards in Season 87.

The sophomore standout averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in the Finals.

The 17-year-old star said she wasn't expecting to win the awards, but she was focused on winning the championship.

"I didn’t really expect [to win] those awards because for me, my goal is to get the championship for UST." Perez told Philippine Basketball Updates.

She also credited her coaches and teammates for her success this season.

"And for my coaches and teammates, throughout the season, everything I achieved is for them, and anything I'm doing all [of these] blood, sweat, and tears are for them. They’re the reason why I [believe in] myself, so for me anytime I achieve something, it's for them." she said.

Perez also expressed her happiness to her teammates and coaches for what she has achieved this season.

“Of course, I am very happy and proud not only on myself but also on my teammates and coaches who helped me throughout the season on and off the court, and I cannot achieve all of these without them, supporting and helping me improve not just to become a good player, but also to become the best version of myself every day.”

The 5-foot-5 forward out of Tigbauan, Iloilo averaged 14.17 points, 10.83 rebounds, and 6.5 assists across six games, topping the statistical race with 103.5 statistical points.

Her teammate Koukou Talla finished fourth with 76 statistical points, averaging 14.0 points and 10.33 rebounds. Lea Pinuela averaged 11.17 points, 3.83 rebounds, and 4.48 assists to finish fifth with 74.33 statistical points.

On the other hand, Adin Rosano finished second with 101.167 statistical points; she is followed by her teammate, Aubrey Lapasaran, with 82.667 statistical points.

Perez also mentioned the challenges that she had overcome, such as controlling emotions.

"For me po siguro yung improvement po sa game ko is yung how I see and react po on everything that I am facing, and also how to control my emotions po. [It] really helped me to bring out more of my best performance.”

She also added that improving mentally actually helped her improve on her game.

“And improving mentally is something na, me as [a] young athlete, should really give more attention to because improving mentally would actually help me improve on my game more. Having said that, we faced challenges like [not being] mentally prepared and [getting] pressured that affected my game, but we overcame it because we have [a] coach [who] will do his very best for us to grow and reach our highest potential. He didn’t leave us and didn’t [give] up on us even though we were just kids, and it’s hard for us to get over that, and we really needed time to overcome those challenges." Perez added.

As the Ilongga forward enters her final season as a high school player in Season 89, she is focused on stepping up as a leader and turning pressure into motivation.

“As a senior po, I really want to help my team and make it more simpler and I really need to step up because I just [got] crowned as [the Season MVP] so instead of being pressured because of that, I just make it a motivation to prove myself that I am deserving for that title. It's really tricky because pressure is privilege but it’s also on how you deal with that pressure its either it’s going to take over you or you're going to take over it.” she said.

The previous season’s Rookie of the Year also added her commitment to continuous improvement as she prepares for her final year in high school, vowing to make the most of every opportunity moving forward.

"Every time I have [the] opportunity to prove myself, I just give my all and I am also preparing myself for these [kinds] of battles because next year will be my last playing year as a high school [player] and moving on to college. I know I have so much to improve on pa and I’ll just give my best every time that I have [the] opportunity to improve and learn and I am sure that I am going to continue fighting for UST."

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- Philippine Basketball Updates

Riri Perez dreams big, aims to mirror Kent Pastrana’s career Even with a resume that already reads like a career’s worth of accomplishments, Rhianne Perez remains unsatisfied, choosing not to rest on her awards but to dream even bigger and push even farther. A Rookie of the Year, Elite Team member, and Season 87 champion, Perez took things up a notch in the...