The UST Tiger Cubs advanced to the Final Four with a sweep of their Day 3 games in the UAAP Season 86 boys’ 3×3 basketball tournament at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Saturday, May 4.
UST clinched its second consecutive 3×3 semifinals berth with 116 points built on a 5-1 win-loss record for second place in the standings.
The Tiger Cubs opened Day 3 of the 3×3 tournament with a 21-17 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles for their fourth win in five outings.
UST big man Koji Buenaflor tallied 11 points, three rebounds, and a block, while JB Lim and Carl Manding chipped in five markers apiece.
UST completed a sweep of their Saturday games after prevailing over the third-seeded Adamson Baby Falcons in a possible knockout semis preview, 17-15.
Tiger Cubs guard Charles Bucsit led UST past the gritty Baby Falcons with nine points on 54.5 percent from the field (6-for-11).
In men’s play, the UST Growling Tigers snapped their two-game skid with a 19-14 win over the FEU Tamaraws.
UST still remained in the hunt for a Final Four ticket in the men’s division with one game left after settling for fifth place and a 3-3 record. UE, NU, and Adamson all have identical 4-2 cards.
The semi finals matches across all divisions will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow, while the battle for bronze and the championship match will start at 4:20 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., respectively.
The UST Tiger Cubs will conclude the elimination round against the Final Four-seeking DLSZ Junior Archers tomorrow, May 5, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the UST Growling Tigers look to boost their Final Four hopes as they go against the NU Bulldogs at the same date and venue.
