Drought over: UE claims 1st UAAP hoops crown in 39 years after routing UST in junior finals

MANILA, Philippines – UE’s near-four-decade wait for a basketball title is over.

The UE Junior Red Warriors pummeled the UST Tiger Cubs, 78-47, to snag their first UAAP basketball championship in 39 years in Game 3 of the Season 87 junior high school basketball finals at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Friday, December 20. 

The win capped off a stellar season for UE, finishing the first-ever regular junior high school basketball season with a league-best 16-2 record.

The last time the Recto-based school won a basketball title was in 1985 when Allan Caidic lifted UE over twice-to-beat holder UST, then known as the Glowing Goldies, in the Season 48 men’s finals. 

Additionally, UE last captured a high school basketball title in 1972 (Season 35). 

“Finally,” Junior Red Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella said. 

“This is very important for us and for the program. I hope this will be enough for us to be a destination for players in the future,” he added. 

Ethan Oraa led UE with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar put up 11 markers in a balanced offensive outing that saw all Junior Red Warriors score at least one field goal in the game. 

UE’s Gab delos Reyes was named the Finals MVP after tallying 6 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He averaged 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks across the three-game series. 

With the game tied at 15-all, the Junior Red Warriors pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the Tiger Cubs, 19-8, to snatch control at halftime. 

UE continued its rampage in the third quarter, jumping out to an 11-0 start in the second half before stretching the lead to as big as 33 points late in the fourth quarter. 

“It was a perfect game. They just want it. The boys want it. They never let up as a team,” Estrella said. 

UST shot 1-of-31 from the three-point line as star guard Jhon Canapi struggled to find his mark with just 11 points on a horrendous 1-of-24 shooting, including a 0-of-17 clip from long range. 

Dustin Bathan topped UST’s scoring with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting alongside 8 rebounds, filling the void left by Nickson Cabanero, who was suspended after a disqualification foul in Game 2. 

UST, whose juniors program last reached the pinnacle in 2001, won the series opener but dropped the second game in a closely contested affair.

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.

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

– Rappler.com