One team will finally end a school’s long title drought today.
University of the East aims to secure its first basketball championship in 39 years, while University of Santo Tomas looks to break a 23-year dry spell in the high school ranks in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Finals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Tip-off is set for 10 a.m.
After a crushing 84-98 defeat in the Finals opener, UE kept its dream season alive with a gritty 76-70 victory in Game 2 last Sunday, capitalizing on the early ejection of UST’s Mythical Five member Andwele Cabañero.
Riding a stellar 15-2 run in their last 17 games, the Junior Warriors aim to end decades of heartbreak and deliver a basketball crown to the Recto-based program.
UE’s last UAAP basketball title came in Season 48 (1985) when the Allan Caidic-led squad toppled UST’s twice-to-beat advantage—adding historical intrigue to this final showdown.
For UE head coach Andrew Estrella, this game is the culmination of his team’s resilience and determination through a grueling three-month campaign.
“That’s the motivation—to bring UE another championship,” Estrella said. “As I’ve said, huwag tayo susuko. And then we won right now, so bakit pa natin ibibigay? Ang dami na namin pinaghirapan, both in and out the court. Bakit pa natin ibibigay kung nandito na tayo?”
On the other side, UST is determined to claim its first high school basketball championship since 2001.
The Tiger Cubs faced an uphill battle just to reach the Finals, overcoming a twice-to-beat disadvantage against the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws in the semifinals.
That momentum powered them to a dominant Game 1 win, but they narrowly dropped Game 2, setting up today’s decisive clash.
UST will have to navigate the absence of Cabañero, who was suspended following his ejection in Game 2 for striking Neil Garcia twice during a loose-ball scuffle.
His absence leaves a significant void that the team must address.
Cabañero’s star trio of Jhon Canapi, Dustin Bathan, and Miguel Jubilado combined for 62 points in Game 2, but the rest of the Tiger Cubs managed just eight points. Coach Noli Mejos emphasized the importance of composure and strategic adjustments in this critical match.
“Part talaga ng laro ang talo, pero may do-or-die game kaya sobra-sobra ang preparations at adjustments, lalo na sa defense,” Mejos said. “A-adjust ako sa palitan ng players at positioning kasi ang laki ng nawala sa amin—si Cabañero pa. Mananalo kami pag maganda depensa at maging maganda takbo ng plays. Dapat hindi kami magmadali at maging composed lang.”
With history and legacy on the line, the UAAP’s first-ever regular Junior High School basketball season will crown a champion in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the first semester of the UAAP.
Game Friday (Filoil EcoOil Centre)
10 a.m. – UST vs UE
(JHS Finals Game 3)
