UNIVERSITY of the East dethroned inaugural division champion National University Nazareth School, 85-64, to punch its ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UE’s championship opponent remains hanging in the balance, as third-ranked University of Santo Tomas lived to fight another day, disarming Far Eastern University-Diliman of its twice-to-beat advantage, 84-75, to keep its championship aspirations alive.
The Junior Warriors will enter the championship round with fiery momentum as UE won 14 of its last 15 outings. Their lone loss of the season came at the hands of the Baby Tamaraws with an 81-66 beating last November 24.
After bowing out in last year’s Final Four to FEU-D in an overtime thriller, UE finally booked its ticket to the division’s championship round.
“Our game plan was executed by the boys. Wala na akong hihilingin pa. They stuck with the game plan from the first quarter, then second quarter kami lumamang talaga. ‘Yung consistency like before I said nu’ng halftime, ‘yon ang hanap ko ‘eh, ‘yung consistency from first to fourth, especially heading into the finals,” Junior Warriors’ head coach Andrew Estrella.
After two free throws by Chester Tulabut trimmed NUNS’ deficit to 34-25, Mav Mesina uncorked 13 points to power UE’s 20-11 second quarter surge, gaining a commanding 54-36 lead at the half.
Back-to-back triples by Jolo Pascual and Mesina sent the Bullpups down a 21-point hole with 7:48 left, further solidifying the Junior Warriors’ finals ticket and their dominance over NUNS.
UE defeated NUNS in both elimination round matches with an average winning margin of 19 points.
Mesina led the Junior Warriors’ charge with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and three steals, while Pascual contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and one steal.
Jared Ferreros chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Neil Garcia and Gab Delos Reyes scored 11 points each to complete UE’s five double-digit scorers.
The Tiger Cubs did not only disarm the Baby Tamaraws of their twice-to-beat incentive, but UST also put an end to FEU-D’s six-game winning streak. Coincidentally, it was the Tiger Cubs who last defeated FEU-D with a come-from-behind 76-75 win in their second round opener last October 16.
UST and FEU-D will clash for the last finals ticket on Sunday, 10 a.m., at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Nakita ko nga na hindi sila nagstruggle doon sa paghabol ng FEU, naging composed sila unlike sa eliminations pag nahahabol kami. Siguro dahil preparado rin lahat, nakaadjust lahat at nagkakumpyansa rin. Pumapasok yung tira namin nung last minutes, binigay na ni Lord sa amin,” Tiger Cubs head coach Noli Mejos said.
Trailing by 10 points to open the payoff period, 57-67, Anton Lopez poured in eight points in the Baby Tamaraws’ 14-4 run to tie the match at 71-all with 5:15 remaining.
However, UST waxed hot at the right time with four consecutive triples from Miguel Jubilado, Jhon Canapi, and Dustin Bathan to keep FEU-D at bay, gaining an 84-73 cushion with 1:32 left to force a do-or-die for the last finals ticket in the division.
Canapi ended the day with 26 points, four steals, three rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Andwele Cabanero flirted with a triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and one steal.
Bathan contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Gab Castro enjoyed his best game of the season with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds, and two assists.
Despite shooting 8-of-21 from the field, Lopez still contributed 23 points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Prince Carino had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Lakay Pasinos also tallied a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds to go along with four blocks.
Mac Tadeo paced NUNS in the losing effort with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block, while Chester Tulabut was limited to 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting but still contributed 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Games on Sunday
(SMART Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Final Four)
1 p.m. – NU vs UST/ADU (Women Finals)
5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)
