FILE

THE UST Tiger Cubs will be without star Nickson Cabañero in the decisive Game 3 of the UAAP junior high school (JHS) basketball finals, head coach Noli Mejos confirmed to the Varsitarian on Thursday. 

In Game 2 on Dec. 15, Cabañero was called for a disqualifying foul after hitting UE’s Neil Garcia during a loose ball play at the 6:54 mark of the first quarter. UST lost the game by a narrow margin, 76-70, allowing UE to force a winner-take-all Game 3. 

The team appealed the decision immediately after Game 2, but the UAAP rejected the appeal and upheld the call. 

The UST Junior Tiger Cubs will aim to clinch the championship against the UE Junior Warriors in the do-or-die Game 3 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Saturday, Dec. 19.

“Nakita rin kasi natin na talagang rules nila ‘yon kaya wala tayong magagawa doon. Prepare na lang ulit sa ensayo namin,” Mejos told the Varistarian

Cabañero, a star guard, recorded a double-double in Game 1 with 21 points and 16 rebounds, along with eight assists, as the Junior Tiger Cubs dominated the Junior Warriors, 98-84, to take an early series lead. 

Mejos said the Tiger Cubs would lean on other key players such as Jhon Canapi and Dustin Bathan, as well as big men Miguel Jubilado and Roi Balague, in the critical rubber match.

“‘Yong rotations ko kasi malaking bagay talaga si Cabanero e. ‘Yong rotation ko mag-iiba. Noong Game 2 naman may chance tayong manalo, talagang hindi lang sa atin napunta ‘yong breaks of the game,” Mejos said

“Halos naka-rely doon sa kanilang dalawa (Cabañero and Jhon Canapi). Sana makatulong mga big man natin, medyo ininvolve ko na sila ngayon for Game 3,” he added.

Cabañero, the younger brother of the Growling Tigers’ Mythical Five member Nicael, defended his actions in Game 2, arguing he was protecting the ball and did not intend to hurt Garcia during the loose-ball play.

“‘Yong ginawa ko talaga hindi sadya ‘yon kasi agawan ng bola. Ako rin natamaan. Dapat din ‘yong UE play na-out. Kasi sadya ‘yong kanya, yung akin prino-protect ko lang ‘yong bola,” Cabañero told the Varsitarian.

Despite the suspension, Cabañero expressed confidence in his teammates to finish the job in the deciding game.

“Siyempre nalungkot din ako dahil hindi in-aaccept ‘yong appeal ko. Wala na tayong magagawa, hindi in-accept e. Kaya naman na nila po; pagdadasal ko na manalo tayo. Laki ng tiwala ko sa teammates ko na kaya nila ‘yan,” he said. with reports Venerando P. Pagaduan VII

1 COMMENT

  1. Why did the UAAP allow a UP player in the seniors division to play in game ,3 of the finals between UP and DLSU with similar disqualifying technical foul, but not allow UST’S Cabañero?

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