UST forces do-or-die vs NUNS for UAAP HS hoops crown

The University of Santo Tomas squeaked past National University Nazareth School, 89-85, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 boys basketball finals to force a rubber match for the high school hoops crown.

The Tiger Cubs were leading 87-77 with 2:37 in the fourth period before NUNS attempted a late rally in the hopes of taking home the title.

Chad Cartel ignited the Bullpups' run with a triple, then Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe's freebies off a Kirk Cañete foul at the 1:33 mark put NUNS closer, 87-82. With less than 30 ticks left, Mac Alfanta then connected from rainbow country to give the Bullpups a chance to end the series.

However, senior Koji Buenaflor sank two from the line off a Roje Matias foul, then Alfanta and Akowe missed their attempts as UST lived for another day in the best-of-three series.

“Credits sa boys, nakita naman na hindi sila nag-panic kahit dumikit, they stayed composed. Nagtiwala sila sa isa’t isa, they played defense well nung huli, talagang trinabaho nila para mabuhay pa yung championship aspirations namin,” Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo said.

Buenaflor led the España-based squad with 24 points along with four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while Charles Esteban and Carl Manding added 16 and 15 points, respectively. Kirk Cañete, meanwhile, had 13 points.

Akowe had 28 points and 26 rebounds, while Alfanta and Migs Palanca had 17 and 15 points, respectively for the Bullpups who took Game 1, 77-70.

The decider will be played on Thursday.

Scores:

UST 89 – Buenaflor 24, Esteban 16, Manding 15, Cañete 13, Bucsit 9, Kane 5, Acido 3, Ludovice 2, Solon 1, Javier 1, Vidanes 0.

NUNS 85 – Akowe 28, Alfanta 17, Palanca 15, Matias 7, Cartel 6, Locsin 4, Pillado 3, Napa 3, Nepacena 2, Solomon 0, Usop 0, Figueroa 0, Natinga 0.

Quarters: 22-17, 48-36, 72-61, 89-85.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News