In a battle that saw drama and heroics, the University of Santo Tomas graduating Cubs Koji Buenaflor, Charles Esteban, and Carl Manding refused to let their high school UAAP careers end without a fight.
Leaning on the combined efforts of the trio, the Tiger Cubs secured an 89-85 triumph over the National University Nazareth School Bullpups to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament Finals on Thursday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
UST held a 72-61 lead, but NUNS clawed back with a crucial 16-6 run, led by Nigerian center Collins Akowe, Migs Palanca, and Mot Matias. The trio helped cut the deficit to 78-77.
However, Manding and Esteban both responded with clutch shooting at the perfect moment.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Manding drilled two consecutive corner triples, followed by Esteban’s three-pointer, extending UST’s lead to a comfortable 87-77 cushion with 2:35 remaining.
The Bullpups, however, refused to surrender. A Chad Cartel triple, two free throws from Akowe, and a late Mac Alfanta three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 87-85 with just 19.2 seconds left.
Despite their comeback attempt, NUNS faltered in the final moments as Alfanta missed a potential game-tying three-pointer, and Akowe’s unconverted layup sealed their fate.
Buenaflor then iced the game with two clutch free throws, keeping UST’s bid to end a 24-year title drought alive.
UST last won a UAAP boys’ basketball championship in Season 64 back in 2001. The rubber match is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 12:00 PM at the same San Juan venue.
“Credits sa boys, nakita naman na hindi sila nag-panic kahit dumikit, they stayed composed. Nagtiwala sila sa isa’t isa, they played defense well nung huli, talagang trinabaho nila para mabuhay pa yung championship aspirations namin,” said second year Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo.
The victory kept the Tiger Cubs afloat despite limited production from Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who battled foul trouble throughout the game. Kane finished with five points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
A key factor in UST’s victory was their improved three-point shooting.
After going 4-of-26 from beyond the arc in their 70-77 Game 1 loss a week ago, the Tiger Cubs converted an efficient 14-of-37 in Game 2.
“Nagbunga itong performance ko dahil inembrace ko yung role ko sa team. As a team captain, dapat ako talaga yung mag-step up diyan kasi ako yung pinaka senior. Ginawa ko lang yung sinasabi nila coach at binigyan nila ako ng kumpiyansa na kahit ilang beses ka sumablay, itira ko lang daw,” Buenaflor shared.
Buenaflor led UST with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Esteban added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with three rebounds and three assists. Manding contributed 15 points, all coming from three-pointers, along with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Co-captain Kirk Canete chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Charles Bucsit added nine points, four rebounds, and two assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, NUNS’ quest to reclaim the UAAP boys’ basketball crown for the first time since Season 82 in 2020 took a major blow.
Despite the setback, history still favors the Bullpups, as three of the last four Game 2 losers in the Finals have gone on to win the championship in a grueling three-game series.
Akowe, who was named the inaugural Best Foreign Student Athlete earlier that day, paced NUNS with a dominant double-double of 28 points, 26 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. Alfanta added 17 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal, but committed eight turnovers.
Palanca, who suffered a minor right foot injury in the second quarter, pushed through the pain to register 15 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in the loss.
The Scores:
UST (89) – Buenaflor 24, Esteban 16, Manding 15, Cañete 13, Bucsit 9, Kane 5, Acido 3, Ludovice 2, Solon 1, Javier 1, Vidanes 0.
NUNS (85) – Akowe 28, Alfanta 17, Palanca 15, Matias 7, Cartel 6, Locsin 4, Pillado 3, Napa 3, Nepacena 2, Solomon 0, Usop 0, Figueroa 0, Natinga 0.
Quarterscores: 22-17, 48-36, 72-61, 89-85
