Battle of Sampaloc: UST, NU to clash in UAAP boys’ basketball finals

MANILA, Philippines – It will be a battle of Sampaloc schools for the UAAP Season 87 boys’ hoops crown. 

The UST Tiger Cubs and the NU Bullpups arranged a title duel after twin wins on Sunday, March 9, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Seeded second, the Tiger Cubs punched their ticket to the best-of-three finals after dismantling the FEU Baby Tamaraws, 75-63, and ended a 15-year absence in the championship series.

“The boys really put in the work. You could see that no matter who we sent in, they stepped up. They really wanted to win. Even during our practices, we could already feel it. Hopefully, it continues,” UST head coach Manu Inigo said in Filipino. 

Wacky Ludovice led the charge for UST with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, while big man Koji Buenaflor added 15 markers and 7 rebounds in a balanced outing for the Tiger Cubs. 

Three others also scored in double digits for UST, as Charles Bucsit also put up 15, while Racine Kane contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Kirk Canete chipped in 10 points on three triples. 

It will be the Tiger Cubs’ first boys’ finals appearance since Season 73 in 2010, back when UST legend Kevin Ferrer was still leading their high school program. 

The Tiger Cubs last won the UAAP boys’ title in Season 64 in 2001 when the team was still bannered by Jun Cortez and current Growling Tigers assistant coach Japs Cuan.

“This is a big deal for us because we have great momentum. The boys’ confidence is also high. The timing is just right,” Inigo said. 

Meanwhile, the NU Bullpups look to avenge last year’s title heartbreak after escaping Season 86 foes Adamson Baby Falcons, 64-62, earlier in the day. 

The Bullpups advanced to the finals for the second straight season and 11th in the last 12 years, reestablishing their status as one of the best high school programs in the country.

NU lost last year against the Baby Falcons, then led by now-Bulldogs player Justine Garcia, in a hard-fought series. 

The Bullpups will look to regain the high school crown once more after winning six straight titles from 2014 to 2020. 

“I just told them to remember everything we’ve been through. I showed them all our defeats since last year,” NU head coach Kevin De Castro said in Filipino. 

The Bullpups were poised to enter the finals via an elimination sweep before UST took them down in their second-round encounter to trigger the Final Four format. 

“Now, we have the opportunity to go to the finals and we’ve finally avenged our loss to Adamson. Maybe this is also our chance to get back at UST. I have nothing but praise for my players because I saw their heart and resilience,” De Castro said. 

Migs Palanca shone for NU with 13 points and 14 rebounds, as Collins Akowe, who is set to win the UAAP’s first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, struggled with fouls for most of the game, finishing with just 11 points and 6 rebounds. 

The finals will commence on Thursday, March 13, at the same venue. – Rappler.com