UE routs UST in Game 3 to win UAAP juniors basketball title

UE Junior Warriors celebrate winning the UAAP Season 87 junior high school boys basketball championship. –UAAP PHOTO

After 39 long years, University of the East has won a UAAP basketball championship again.

UE dominated University of Santo Tomas, 78-47, in a winner-take-all Game 3 to clinch the first regular UAAP junior high school boys basketball championship on Friday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The last time UE celebrated a basketball championship was in UAAP Season 48 (1985) when its men’s basketball team, led by legends Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera, brought home the crown.

READ: Collins Akowe named UAAP juniors basketball MVP

“Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program. As I’ve said before, this would be enough na puntahan kami ng mga players. All of the teams namin sa basketball, puntahan na,” said Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella.

The Junior Warriors had been dominant all season long, absorbing only two losses–an 81-66 defeat to the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws during the eliminations and a 98-84 setback in Game 1 of the Finals against UST.

However, UE turned the series around, solving the Tiger Cubs puzzle with a hard-fought 76-70 win in Game 2 to force the decider.

UE Junior Warriors’ Gab Delos Reyes wins the Finals MVP award for UAAP Season 87. –UAAP PHOTO

In Game 3, UE broke away as early as the second quarter.

“It’s a perfect game. The boys wanted it. They delivered. Sa gameplan namin, hindi sila bumitaw. In short, they wanted the championship and here it is,” said Estrella.

Gab Delos Reyes, a lanky forward from San Beda-Alabang, was named Finals MVP after averaging 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the series.

He capped his stellar performance in Game 3 with six points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks.

“Siyempre po ngayong Game 3, hindi namin inisip na wala si (Andwele) Cabanero. Naglaro lang kami ng tama at sinunod lang yung coaches,” said Delos Reyes.

Oraa led UE in scoring with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar chipped in 11.

UST struggled in the absence of Andwele Cabanero, who was suspended for Game 3 after striking Neil Garcia twice during a loose ball scuffle in Game 2.

Without the Mythical Team member to stabilize the Tiger Cubs, UST shot a dismal 20.5 percent from the field, including a woeful 1-of-31 from beyond the arc.

Dustin Bathan led UST with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while fellow Mythical Team member Jhon Canapi managed just 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting.

The Scores:

UE (78) – Oraa 13, Bungar 11, Ferreros 9, Pascual 8, Orca 8, Garcia 7, Delos Reyes 6, Panganiban 6, Mesina 5, Dalosa 3, Okebata 2.

UST (47) – Bathan 16, Canapi 11, Jubilado 7, Javier 5, Villacarlos 4, Castro 2, Balague 2, Lim 0, Guerrero 0.

Quarterscores: 15-15, 34-23, 54-32, 78-47.