UST staves off NU in overtime, ends 24-year title drought in UAAP boys’ basketball 

MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP boys’ basketball title is back at the hands of the UST Tiger Cubs for the first time in 24 years. 

This, after the Tiger Cubs eked out a nail-biting 83-77 overtime win over the NU Bullpups in Game 3 of their Season 87 best-of-three finals at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, March 27. 

Foreign student-athlete Racine Kane was a man on a mission as he racked up a monster double-double of 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Tiger Cubs — who claimed their first championship since Season 64 in 2001 — when the team was still led by former MVP Jun Cortez. 

The championship also marked the first-ever “golden double” in UAAP high school basketball history as the Junior Growling Tigresses also ruled the girls’ tournament following a 2-0 sweep of the Lady Bullpups in the finals. 

“My goal as a coach is to help as many young players as possible reach the next level. I will connect all that history to the players we have guided — that’s what truly matters,” said UST head coach Manu Inigo. 

With UST already ahead by as many as 17 points late in the first half, 46-29, NU managed to crawl back and tie things up at 64-all off a triple by Iver Napa in the crucial stages of the fourth. 

UST had multiple chances to pull away again from NU later on, but missed free throws by Wacky Ludovice and Charles Bucsit in the final minute of the fourth left the door open for the Bullpups.

With NU only trailing by two, 72-74, Miguel Palanca then sank a clutch game-tying putback off a miss by Mac Alfanta, which ultimately sent the game into overtime. 

Unfortunately for NU, UST immediately raced to an 80-74 lead in the first three minutes of the extra period as the Tiger Cubs took advantage of a Bullpups side minus the tournament’s Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe, who fouled out late in the final frame. 

“A 17-point lead means nothing against NU. Our vision was to win it quarter by quarter, so we didn’t care who was leading — as long as we fought until the end. We got lucky in overtime, and that’s how we won,” said Inigo.

Koji Buenaflor backstopped the Finals MVP Kane with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Charles Esteban added 11 markers for the Tiger Cubs.

Ludovice and Carl Manding also breached the double-digit scoring territory for UST with 10 points apiece. 

Akowe came up with a massive all-around line of 23 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks to pace the Bullpups, who finished at second place for the second consecutive season. 

Palanca chipped in 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Alfanta contributed 10 markers and 11 boards for NU in the heartbreaking loss. 

The Scores

UST 83 – Kane 28, Buenaflor 12, Esteban 11, Ludovice 10, Manding 10, Cañete 8, Bucsit 4, Solon 0, Acido 0, Cidanes 0.

NU 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.

Quarters: 24-18, 46-33, 60-49, 74-74 (reg.), 83-77 (OT). 

– Rappler.com