Junior Warriors end 43-year UAAP high school hoops title drought

(Updated, 2:55 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines — The 43-year title drought is over.

The University of the East Junior Warriors broke their decades-long championship dry spell after blasting the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 78-47, in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 juniors’ basketball Finals Friday morning at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

UE pounced on an ice-cold performance by UST’s Jhon Canapi and the suspension of Andwele Cabanero — both Mythical Five members — to grab the title.

Gabriel Oraa spearheaded the Junior Warriors with 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Enrico Bungar added 11 markers, four boards, three dimes and three steals.

The game was close in the second quarter, with UST’s Miguel Jubilado connecting on a layup to cut the lead to four, 23-27.

But UE erupted on the offensive end and locked down on the defensive end to unleash a game-changing 18-0 run capped by a Neil Garcia jumper to take a 45-23 lead.

Free throws by Canapi gave the Tiger Cubs much-needed points, 26-45, but a 7-2 blitz capped by a Kiefer Panganiban jumper made it 52-28 with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter.

The Juniors Warriors simply could not be stopped, as their lead ballooned to as much as 23 points, 72-39, with 4:09 left in the game after a Jared Ferreros jumper.

The lead was too big to overcome as UE breezed through to the finish line.

Ferreros added nine markers for the newly crowned champions, while Jolo Pascual and Brian Orca had eight points each.

Dustin Bathan was the lone bright spot for UST with 16 points and eight rebounds, but he committed five turnovers and shot 6-of-19 from the field. Canapi had a horrendous offensive outing with 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting, missing all of his 17 3-point attempts. Cabanero was suspended in Game 3 after being ejected in Game 2. 

As a whole, UE made 35 of their 73 field goals, while limiting the Tiger Cubs to 15-of-73 for 20.5%. The champions also outrebounded their opponents 59-41 as they dished out 24 assists.

The last time the Junior Warriors won the high school basketball championship was back in Season 44 in 1981, with Jerry Codinero, Modesto Hojilla and the Longalong brothers at the helm. 

This is also the first time UE won a basketball championship since Season 48, when the Allan Caidic-led squad overcame UST’s twice-to-beat advantage.