THE NO. 3 UST Tiger Cubs completed their upset of the No. 2 FEU-D Baby Tamaraws on Sunday with a 67-61 victory in Game 2 of their Final Four clash, clinching the last finals spot in the UAAP Season 87 junior high school (JHS) basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tiger Cubs will face the UE Junior Warriors, who dominated the eliminations with a 13-1 record, including wins over UST in both rounds. Game 1 of the best-of-three finals is set for Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With the score tied at 59 in the fourth quarter, UST big man Gab Castro delivered two crucial mid-range jump shots to give UST the lead with a minute to go in the game, 63-59.
FEU’s Lakay Pasinos managed to cut the lead to two after converting a layup but failed to sink the foul shot.
Castro sealed the game for UST by completing a three-point play in the final seconds, finishing with 11 points and four rebounds.
“Sa totoo lang, noong last game lang lumabas ‘yong laro niya, ‘yong inaasahan kong game,” UST head coach Noli Mejos said of Castro. “Dapat papalitan ko na sana siya pero dahil naniniwala ako na may mailalabas ‘to kaya lumabas ‘yong laro niya ngayon.”
After a 21-16 first quarter, the Tiger Cubs kept control of the momentum in the second frame, courtesy of Miguel Jubilado, who produced 11 points in the frame, for a 35-32 UST lead at halftime.
FEU surged with a 16-6 run in the third quarter, capped by a Patrick Pasinos putback, to take a 46-43 advantage.
However, consecutive 3-pointers from Nickson Cabañero and Jhon Canapi, followed by a Dustin Bathan 3-point play, turned things around for UST heading into the payoff period, 52-48.
The Baby Tamaraws faltered in the closing minutes, unable to counter Castro’s clutch plays.
“Job’s not finished,” said Cabañero, who paced UST with 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. “May kulang pa po kami, may finals pa po kami, ‘yon talaga yong goal namin. ‘Yong una, Final Four, ngayon andito na kami sa finals, dapat kukunin na namin ‘yon.”
Bathan also delivered 15 markers with six rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes of the game. Miguel Jubilado produced 13 points, five boards, and four assists.
anapi struggled from the field, managing just nine points, but chipped in six rebounds and five assists.
Pasinos led the Baby Tamaraws with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Anton Lope and Mark Dulin each scored 11 points.
