The UE Junior Red Warriors secure the UAAP Season 87 juniors’ basketball title after whipping the UST Tiger cubs by 31 points in a do-or-die Game 3.
The UE Junior Red Warriors on Friday secured the UAAP Season 87 junior’s basketball title after a 78-47 beating over the UST Tiger Cubs at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
This now marks the Red Warriors’ first UAAP high school crown since Season 35 (1972). Moreover, it’s also a perfect conclusion to their stellar Season 87 run, where the Recto-based squad finished with a 16-2 overall record.
Ethan Oraa topscored for UE with 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals followed by Enrico Burgar with 11 points and four rebounds. Ace guard Mav Mesina was limited to five points, but still added six assists and was a plus-23 in nearly 24 minutes of play.
Gab Delos Reyes was hailed Finals MVP as he averaged 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks throughout the three-game series. He finished with six points and 16 rebounds in the do-or-die Game 3 on Friday.
“It’s a perfect game. There’s nothing I could say, but the boys want it, they deliver. ‘Yung sa gameplan namin, hindi sila bumitaw. In short they won the championship,” said UE head coach Andrew Estrella.
After a 15-all first quater, UE erupted for a 19-8 second quarter, which gave them a 34-23 heading into halftime against the Tiger Cubs.
From there, it was all UE, who outscored the Tiger Cubs 44-24 en route to the historic high school basketball crown. UE’s surge peaked midway into the fourth quarter, wherein they were able to erect a 33-point lead, 72-39.
More than the historic feat, this also serves as a perfect swan song to the Season 87 core, who are set to enter the 19-and-under tournament by next season, save for Filipino-Nigerian Goodluck Okebata.
UST struggled to connect throughout the rubber match as they were limited to a 15-of-73 (20.5 percent) shooting clip, including a 1-of-31 outing from three-point range. They also struggled with the loss of Mythical Five member Nickson Cabañero, who was suspended in Game 2 after hitting Neil Garcia during a loose ball scuffle.
Guard Dustin Bathan led the Tiger Cubs with 16 points and eight rebounds, while spitfire scorer Jhon Canapi settled for 11 points built on 9-of-14 free throw shooting.
Despite the silver-medal finish, it was still a productive Season 87 for the Tiger Cubs, who entered the Final Four with a 10-4 slate. They overcame second-seeded FEU-Diliman’s twice-to-beat advantage en route to the finals, and even drew first blood against the Junior Warriors before dropping Games 2 and 3.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.