Tiger Cubs end 24-year title drought
MANILA, Philippines — Santo Tomas pulled off a great 83-77 overtime escape act over National U-Nazareth School to snap a 24-year title drought in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 high school boys’ basketball finals yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Tiger Cubs wasted a 17-point lead in regulation but regrouped in the extra session to win their first UAAP juniors title since 2001 (Season 64) under the leadership of MVP and bona fide Tiger Jun Cortez.
It’s the 12th juniors basketball title for Santo Tomas, completing a twin-championship following the 8-0 sweep of the Junior Growling Tigresses in the girls’ tournament last week behind Season MVP and Finals MVP Barby Dajao.
Senegalese forward Racine Kane was at the forefront of Santo Tomas’ 2-1 series win and was rewarded with Finals MVP plum. He posted averages of 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 steals and 1.6 blocks.
And he saved his best for last, dropping 28 points and 17 rebounds laced by an assist, two steals and a block. His back-to-back short heaves gave Santo Tomas an 80-74 lead in the clutch that proved enough to win it for the Cubs.
Koji Buenaflor backstopped him with 12 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while Charles Esteban (11), Joaquin Ludovice (10) and Carl Manding (10) threw in solid contributions.
“Walang safe na lead against NUNS talaga. Ang vision namin ay win it per quarter kaya wala kaming pakialam kung sino lamang hanggang dulo. Swinerte kami nung overtime kaya kami nanalo,” said coach Manu Inigo, now a champion coach in both the UAAP and the NCAA.
Inigo authored the San Beda Red Cubs’ NCAA title in Season 95 before his Santo Tomas transfer, becoming an addition to the list of coaches with championships in the UAAP and the NCAA. Included in the list are Turo Valenzona, Joel Banal, Koy Banal and Aldin Ayo.
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