AFTER 39 long years, a UAAP basketball championship is finally headed back to Recto.
University of the East seized the moment, dominating University of Santo Tomas, 78-47, in a winner-take-all Game 3 to clinch the first regular UAAP Junior High School Boys Basketball championship on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The last time UE celebrated a basketball championship was during UAAP Season 48 (1985) when its men’s basketball team, led by legends Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera, brought home the crown.
The Junior Warriors last tasted high school basketball glory in Season 44 (1981), under the guidance of coach Gabriel Reyala, with standout players like Codiñera, Modesto Hojilla, and the Longalong brothers.
“Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program. As I’ve said before, this would be enough na puntahan kami ng mga players. All of the teams namin sa basketball, puntahan na,” said Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella.
The Junior Warriors had been dominant all season-long, absorbing only two losses: an 81-66 defeat to the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws during the eliminations and a 98-84 setback in Game 1 of the Finals against UST.
However, UE turned the series around, solving the Tiger Cubs puzzle with a hard-fought 76-70 win in Game 2 to force the decider.
In Game 3, UE broke away as early as the second quarter.
After a 15-all deadlock in the opening period, Brian Orca and Ethan Oraa spearheaded a 19-point explosion for the Junior Warriors.
Meanwhile, Gab Delos Reyes anchored the defense, holding UST to just eight points in the quarter to secure a 34-23 halftime lead.
The momentum carried on, with UE unloading a telling 9-0 run to open the second half and led by as many as 33 points, 72-39, in what Estrella described as a “perfect game.”
“It’s a perfect game. The boys wanted it. They delivered. Sa gameplan namin, hindi sila bumitaw. In short, they wanted the championship and here it is,” said Estrella.
By the midway point of the third quarter, the UE community—led by school president Dr. Zosimo Battad—was already on its feet, dancing to the beat of the UE Drummers in celebration.
“This is so sweet. This is my first time in the UAAP. Credit to the UE community and, most especially, SGA, Boss Frank, Boss Jared, and Boss Jacob (Lao) for building this team,” said Estrella. “Three months of sacrifices. We went through adversities but we rose above it.”
Also present in the game was Derrick Pumaren, the coach who gave UE its first-ever boys’ basketball title back in Season 35 (1972).
“We are thankful to Manong Derrick for motivating us with a speech before we headed to the court. Dun na-realize ng mga bata that they were playing for a higher purpose,” said Estrella.
Delos Reyes, a lanky forward from San Beda-Alabang, was named Finals MVP after averaging 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the series.
He capped his stellar performance in Game 3 with six points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks.
“Siyempre po ngayong Game 3, hindi namin inisip na wala si (Andwele) Cabanero. Naglaro lang kami ng tama at sinunod lang yung coaches,” said Delos Reyes.
Oraa led UE in scoring with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar chipped in 11.
Jared Ferreros contributed nine points, with Jolo Pascual and Orca adding eight apiece. Orca also pulled down eight rebounds.
UST struggled in the absence of Andwele Cabanero, who was suspended for Game 3 after striking Neil Garcia twice during a loose ball scuffle in Game 2.
Without the Mythical Team member to stabilize the Tiger Cubs, UST shot a dismal 20.5 percent from the field, including a woeful 1-of-31 from beyond the arc.
Dustin Bathan led UST with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while fellow Mythical Team member Jhon Canapi managed just 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting.
Looking ahead, 10 of the 11 Junior Warriors will move up to the 19-and-under division next UAAP season, leaving Goodluck Okebata as the lone returning player for the Junior Warriors.
The work isn’t done for Estrella, who will assist Karl Santos in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, which tips off on January 19 at the same venue.
“I hope this inspires our 19-and-under team,” said Estrella.
The Scores:
UE (78) – Oraa 13, Bungar 11, Ferreros 9, Pascual 8, Orca 8, Garcia 7, Delos Reyes 6, Panganiban 6, Mesina 5, Dalosa 3, Okebata 2.
UST (47) – Bathan 16, Canapi 11, Jubilado 7, Javier 5, Villacarlos 4, Castro 2, Balague 2, Lim 0, Guerrero 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 34-23, 54-32, 78-47.
