MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas demonstrated unyielding determination and commitment to clinch the top spot in the UAAP high school boys’ basketball tournament.
After 24 years, the Tiger Cubs have reclaimed their gold title as they won the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Championship with an exciting 83-77 victory over the National University Nazareth School Bullpups in overtime, held last Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
UST’s most recent celebration of a UAAP boys’ basketball championship occurred during Season 64 way back in 2001, with the team guided by season MVP and long-time UST player Jun Cortez.
The championship completed the Tiger Cubs’ redemption story following two back-to-back fourth-place showings in Seasons 85 and 86. This victory also secured their 12th total title, cementing their position as the second most successful program in UAAP boys’ basketball history.
After the Junior Growling Tigresses clinched the title last Thursday, the Tiger Cubs’ victory enabled UST to secure the inaugural ‘golden double’ in UAAP high school basketball history since girls’ basketball was introduced in Season 82 back in 2020.
“My aim as a mentor is to assist as many young athletes as possible in reaching the next stage of their careers. What really counts is linking this legacy with the players we’ve nurtured,” stated Manu Inigo, the head coach of the Tiger Cubs, who became part of an elite group as just the fifth coach to claim titles in both the NCAA and UAAP during the contemporary period, after Turo Valenzona, Joel Banal, Koy Banal, and Aldin Ayo.
Seventeen points ahead mean nothing when facing NUNS. Our aim was to secure each quarter one at a time, hence we weren’t concerned with whoever was in the lead—just as long as we gave our all till the very last moment. We caught a break during the extra period, which led us to victory.
The series was intensely competitive, with an average winning difference of only 5.6 points per match. NUNS took the lead by securing a 77-70 triumph in Game 1, but UST equalized it with an 89-85 win in Game 2, setting up a decisive Game 3.
Even though they were behind by up to 17 points, the Bullpups made their move at the perfect moment during the final quarter, pushing the game into overtime when Jid Locsin divided his free throws and Migs Palanza scored a putback following Mac Alfanta’s missed layup.
Nevertheless, this final surge proved costly for NUNS since Season 87 Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe—who scored 23 points, grabbed 24 rebounds, blocked four shots, and dished three assists—was forced to leave the game due to fouls with only five seconds left in regular time.
This turned out to be the pivotal moment during overtime. UST took an early lead of 80-74 thanks to a fadeaway bank shot by co-captain Kirk Cañete and consecutive layups from Senegalese forward Racine Kane.
As Mot Matias stepped onto the court after Locsin was sidelined due to cramps with just under two minutes left, she sparked a last-ditch effort for The Bullpups. Her three-pointer narrowed down their gap to 80-77. Nevertheless, Kane’s successful free throw along with critical missed shots during the waning moments of the game ensured UST emerged victorious.
Matias got an opportunity to increase their lead but squandered crucial free throw chances, whereas frantic three-point tries from both Matias and Iver Napa fell short, thus determining NUNS’s outcome.
Kane concluded his initial UAAP campaign impressively, securing Finals MVP accolades by maintaining averages of 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 steals, and 1.6 assists throughout the three-game series.
“Following Game 2, Coach Manu spoke with me, emphasizing that we must wrap things up in Game 3. Given this is our final year together, we left nothing on the table today; we played for UST and for Coach Manu,” Kane stated.
Kane led UST to their title-winning victory by scoring 28 points along with grabbing 17 rebounds, blocking two shots, stealing twice, and contributing one assist. Despite having some trouble offensively, team leader Koji Buenaflor still managed to score 12 points from 5 successful attempts out of 16 tries, complementing his performance with 15 rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Charles Esteban contributed 11 points, along with four rebounds, one assist, and a steal. Wacky Ludovice and Carl Manding also stepped up, scoring 10 points apiece. On the other hand, Cañete nearly achieved a triple-double, ending the game with eight points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Castro’s NUNS program experienced more heartbreak, securing their second successive silver medal after losing to Adamson University in another exhausting three-game series during Season 86 (2024).
Palanca topped the scoring for the Bullpups with 21 points, along with grabbing 13 rebounds, blocking three shots, adding one assist, and stealing the ball once. Meanwhile, Alfanta had difficulty finding his shot, managing only 10 points off of 4 successful attempts out of 15 tries, though he did secure 11 rebounds, provide two assists, and make one theft. In contrast, Locsin scored nine points, dished out three assists, pulled down two boards, made one steal, and blocked another attempt despite their team’s loss.
The NUNS will say goodbye to several important members as Akowe, Palanca, Alfanta, Locsin, Jedric Solomon, Iver Napa, Gab Nepacena, Tom Pillado, Allan Timbang, and Alnhumaeri Usop all move forward after completing their studies.
The Scores:
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.
Quarter scores: 24-18, 46-33, 60-49, 74-74, 83-77