Extend, not end.
That was the mindset of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs as they faced a do-or-die Game 2 against the National University Nazareth School Bullpups in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament last Thursday.
With their backs against the wall — watching an 11-point fourth-quarter lead dwindle to just one — graduating Tiger Cubs Koji Buenaflor, Charles Esteban, and Carl Manding refused to let their high school UAAP careers conclude without one last fight.
The trio combined for 55 points, powering UST to an 89-85 victory over NUNS to force a winner-take-all Game 3, set for Thursday, March 27, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Keeping the Tiger Cubs afloat throughout the game, Buenaflor expressed pride in how their graduating batch has matured over the past three UAAP seasons. The challenges have them for the pressure of a championship-level battle as they continue their pursuit of ending UST’s 24-year UAAP boys’ basketball title drought.
Buenaflor, Manding, and Esteban — along with team captain Charles Bucsit — were all recruited by former head coach Jinino Manansala when UAAP boys’ basketball returned in Season 85 in 2023.
Now in their final year in the program, Game 3 presents their last opportunity to rewrite their narrative and push UST past its usual fourth-place finish.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Since Season 85 nga kami-kami na nila Carl, nila [Charles] Bucsit, ni Esteban. Ayun, may ilang araw na rin na yun, napagkwekwentuhan namin kung gaano kahaba yung pinagdaanan namin — simula 85, 86, hanggang 87 — sobrang hirap nang pinagdaanan namin,” said the 6-foot-6 center, who led the way with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
“Tapos yun nga, parang kami-kami lang din kasi ang magkakaintindihan kasi kami yung mga seniors dito. Kaya ngayon na nasa Finals kami, ayun, parang chine-cherish namin yung moments namin at pinapakita namin yung maturity namin kung kailan kinakailangan talaga.”
NUNS stormed back into the game with a crucial 16-6 run, trimming UST’s 72-61 lead to just 78-77. But when it mattered most, Manding and Esteban delivered in the clutch.
Manding knocked down back-to-back corner three-pointers, followed by a triple from Esteban, pushing UST’s lead to a comfortable 87-77 cushion with 2:35 remaining — sealing their Game 2 triumph.
The heartbreak of the past two UAAP seasons still lingers, but for the two graduating Tiger Cubs, those setbacks have only fueled their hunger for one final dance with UST.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Hindi pa kami papayag,” Esteban declared. “Kasi, sabi ko nga kay Koji after ng game na may last dance pa kami. Makakapaglaro pa kami ng isa na magkakasama kaming lahat,” he added after finishing with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists.
“Sinabi ko noon sa kanila, yung goal ko is umabot ng Finals at makapaglaro sa Finals. As a senior, gusto ko ma-experience yung championship — yung atmosphere, yung environment, at yung pakiramdam na makapaglaro sa championship,” Manding said.
“Dagdag motivation yung last two seasons na nag-fall short kami. Parang yung hunger at gutom na nag-build up from those seasons, binubuhos na namin lahat dito sa Finals,” he added after contributing 15 points — all from three-pointers — along with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Now, with one last shot at the title, the Tiger Cubs are determined to extend their season — and their dreams — just a little longer.
