After months of grueling battles and two hard-fought finals games, it all comes down to this — one final showdown to determine the princes of UAAP Season 87 high school boys’ basketball.
National University Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas collide in a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, with everything on the line.
The Bullpups are gunning for their ninth overall title, while the Tiger Cubs are aiming to reclaim their throne with what would be their 12th championship in the division — ending a 24-year title drought in the process.
The high-stakes matchup at noon will feature a tactical battle between two of the brightest young coaches in the game: Bullpups mentor Kevin De Castro and Tiger Cubs tactician Manu Iñigo.
NUNS took the series opener, 77-70, on March 13 before UST forced a decider a week later with an 89-85 escape.
For De Castro — top protégé of Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa — the key for the Bullpups is returning to the form that powered their dominant 13-0 start to the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sa amin siguro, like I said before the season started, we are here to learn and compete as a team,” he said. “We’ll take the win, pero mas tinitingnan namin ito sa growth and improvements — both individually and as a team.
“Yes, we’re in the finals, and it’s a winner-takes-all match, pero susubukan lang naming gawin ang mga bagay na ginawa namin throughout the year.”
Meanwhile, Iñigo — who previously led San Beda to the NCAA Season 95 title — knows Game 3 will come down to sheer determination.
“Well, kahit na ano pang sabihin namin ngayon, sabi ko nga, yung Game 3, diyan magkakaalaman who really wants it more, diba?” said Iñigo, now in his second year as the Tiger Cubs’ head coach.
“Hindi pwedeng sinasabi lang namin na mas gusto namin. Yun din sinabi ko sa kanila nung Game 2, na kailangan tayo mismo, we do it with our actions. So, walang statement win or anything, focus lang kami sa isang game na natitira,” he added, recalling how his San Beda squad triumphed over Lyceum-Cavite in the 2019 NCAA finals.
NUNS will once again lean on Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe, who has been a dominant force, averaging 26.0 points and 24.0 rebounds per game in the series.
De Castro is also banking on his seniors — Migs Palanca, Chad Cartel, and Macmac Alfanta — to step up on both ends of the floor.
“Kailangan lang naming mag-adjust sa defense namin kasi we gave up 89 points sa UST — siguro iyon ang isang bagay na kailangan naming i-improve. Kailangan din naming mag-start strong, maglaro nang maayos at consistent buong game kung gusto talaga naming makuha ang championship this season,” De Castro added, aiming to lead NUNS to its first high school boys’ title since Season 82 (2020).
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
On the other side, UST will be led by Koji Buenaflor, the 6-foot-7 big man from Pampanga, who has been averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the series.
Racine Kane, who struggled in Game 2 with just five points and three rebounds after an explosive 25-point, 12-rebound performance in the opener, will also look to bounce back.
Buenaflor, along with Carl Manding and Charles Bucsit, hopes to cap off his high school career with a championship.
“Ayun, syempre I’m very proud and happy sa pinakita ng boys. Nag-mamature na sila, na-gegets na nila kung ano yung tamang basketball. But again, sabi ko nga, job’s not done. We have one more game to prepare. And yun, tignan natin,” said Iñigo.
