MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs are back on top of the UAAP Boys Basketball Tournament with an 83-77 overtime win against National University Nazareth School Bullpups in the do-or-die Game 3 of the Season 87 Finals on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
Racine Kane finished with a double-double of 28 points and 17 rebounds to go with two steals, two blocks, and one assist as the Tiger Cubs wrapped up the best-of-three title series at 2-1.
Koji Buenaflor added 12 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, Charles Esteban contributed 11 markers, while Joaquin Ludovice and Carl Manding ended with 10 points each for the Tiger Cubs.
This is the Tiger Cubs’ first UAAP Boys’ Basketball championship since UAAP Season 64 in 2001, with a squad featuring Jun Cortez, June Dizon, and current UST Growling Tigers assistant coach John Paul Cuan.
Leading by as many as 17 points at 46-29 on a conversion by Ludovice late in the second quarter, the Tiger Cubs saw their lead turned to a 64-all count by a furious Bullpups run in the fourth quarter.
The Tiger Cubs regained a 71-66 lead with baskets from Kane, Buenaflor, and Charles Bucsit, but the Bullpups countered with their own run to force an extension at 74-all.
UST took advantage of NUNS center Collins Akowe’s absence in the overtime period as they zoomed to an 80-74 advantage on inside conversions by Kane and Kirk Cañete.
The Bullpups retaliated with a three-pointer from Roje Matias to cut the deficit to 77-80, but a split free throw by Kane and two free throws from Cañete sealed the championship for the Tiger Cubs.
“Ginusto lang namin manalo,” said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo after the game. “Sabi ko sa kanila na hindi puwedeng sinasabi lang namin na gusto namin, we have to do it with our actions.”
Akowe finished with a double-double of 23 points and 24 rebounds, Miguel Palanca added 21 markers, while Carl Alfanta ended with 10 points for the Bullpups, which finished runner up for the second straight season./PN
BOX SCORE:
UST 83 – Kane 28, Buenaflor 12, Esteban 11, Ludovice 10, Manding 10, Cañete 8, Bucsit 4, Solon 0, Acido 0, Cidanes 0.
NUNS 77 – Akowe 23, Palanca 21, Alfanta 10, Locsin 9, Cartel 4, Matias 3, Solomon 2, Nepacena 2, Usop 0, Pillado 0, Natinga 0, Figueroa 0, Lucido 0.
Quarterscores: 24-18, 46-33, 60-49, 74-74, 83-77.
