By Jean Malanum
MANILA – University of Santo Tomas relied on its seasoned players to escape with an 89-85 win over National University Nazareth School Thursday, and force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Skipper Koji Buenaflor sealed UST’s victory with two free throws. He finished with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Charles Esteban chipped in 16 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Carl Manding added 15 points as the Tiger Cubs took a 72-61 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Bullpups rallied behind Nigerian center Collins Akowe, Carl Alfanta, Miguel Palanca and Mot Matias to move within 77-78, 5:21 remaining in the fourth period.
Manding and Esteban delivered back-to-back triples that gave UST a 87-77 lead, 2:35 remaining.
NUNS made it 85-87 on Alfanta’s three-pointer, 21 seconds left. But that proved to be the Bullpups’ best effort.
The rubber match is scheduled on March 27 at 12 p.m. at the same San Juan venue.
UST last held the title in Season 64 (2001).
“Credit to the boys, it was clear that they didn’t panic even though they were stuck, they stayed composed. They trusted each other, they played defense well in the end, they really worked hard to keep our championship aspirations alive,” UST head coach Manu Iñigo said.
Co-captain Kirk Canete had 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Charles Bucsit added nine points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Senegalese forward Racine Kane finished with five points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
“My performance paid off because I embraced my role on the team. As a team captain, I should really be the one to step up there because I’m the most senior. I just did what the coach told me and they gave me the confidence that no matter how many times you miss, I’ll just keep going,” said Buenaflor, playing in his final year with the Tiger Cubs.
Akowe, winner of the Best Foreign Student Athlete award, delivered 28 points, 26 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists for NUNS, which won Game 1 (77-70) last March 13.
Alfanta produced 17 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal, while Palanca had 15 points, seven rebounds, and one assist. (PNA)
