UAAP Season 87 girls’ basketball Most Valuable Player Barby Dajao has committed to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses, according to a report from the Tiebreaker Times on Monday, May 5.

Dajao looks to follow the footsteps of fellow UST high school products Karylle Sierba, Gin Relliquette, and Brigette Santos.

The 19-year-old guard will step in to reinforce UST’s backcourt next season, following the departure of Growling Tigresses veteran Tacky Tacatac.

Dajao led the Junior Tigresses to a dominant sweep of the UAAP Season 87 girls’ high school division, capturing both the 5-on-5 and 3×3 championships.

Dajao averaged 17.25 points, 11.25 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 4.13 steals per game in the 5x5 tourney while she also logged 7.0 points and 5.25 rebounds per outing in the three-a-side courts, where she was named MVP in both tournaments.

The Bacolod-native bolsters a reloaded UST lineup that features six-foot-three Nigerian Oma Onianwa and Fil-Australian forwards Naysa Tate and Erinn McAlary, who played in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball Tournament.

Dajao aims to make an immediate impact as Eka Soriano and Kent Pastrana will play out their graduation year in Season 88.