KOJI Buenaflor was a man on a mission the moment he entered the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, not about to let Thursday be the last day for University of Santo Tomas' campaign in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament.
Joining forces with clutch Carl Manding and Charles Esteban, the skipper propelled the Tiger Cubs past NU-Nazareth School, 89-85, in Game 2 of the finals.
Buenaflor delivered the goods throughout with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while Manding and Esteban came through when it mattered most to shoot the black-and-gold to a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Bullpups.
Just as NUNS rallied to just behind by one, 77-78, with under five minutes left, Manding fired back-to-back corner triples before Esteban launched a long-range missile of his own to extend the UST lead to 87-77 with 2:35 remaining.
Still, freshly-minted first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete Collins Akowe, Chad Cartel, and Mac Alfanta kept coming, however, and again pushed the Bullpups to within 87-85.
READ: The real MVP? Akowe welcomes first-ever Best FSA award with open arms
With just 19.2 ticks to go on the clock, Akowe and Alfanta couldn't convert on their good looks, however, and Buenaflor kept them at bay once and for all with a pair of free throws.
"Credit sa boys… Hindi sila nag-panic. Kahit dumikit, they stayed composed, nagtiwala sila sa isa't-isa," said head coach Manu Inigo, a onetime NCAA champion coach vying for his first title in the UAAP.
Esteban wound up with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists, as Manding chimed in 15 markers and two boards. That was more than enough to overcome a silent showing from Racine Kane who had five points, three rebounds, and two dimes.
Despite their Senegalese big dealing with foul trouble, the Tiger Cubs stood strong to stay alive for their first championship since 2001.
Of course, NUNS is also dead-set in ending a six-year title drought come Game 3 next Thursday still at the same venue.
Akowe showed the way for them in this one with a monster 28-point, 26-rebound double-double on top of three blocks and two assists, while Alfanta also added 17 markers, five dimes, and three boards.
Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alas
As the Bullpups' Nigerian powerhouse was recognized as the league's first-ever Best FSA, the MVP trophy was hoisted by Kieffer Alas of De La Salle Zobel.
Thanks to per game counts of 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals, the son of veteran coach Louie and brother of NLEX star Kevin became just the second Jr. Archer to win the top player plum after Aljun Melecio in 2016.
"Masakit to not make it to the Final Four, pero at least, may positives to this season. I'll just use this as fuel for my future," he said, as he continued to fall short of the playoffs.
Rounding out the Mythical Five alongside Akowe and Alas are FEU-Diliman's Cabs Cabonilas, Adamson's Mark Esperanza, and the University of the Philippines Integrated School's Nathan Egea.
The 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
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