BY Andrei Barrantes
FOR the first time in 15 years, University of Santo Tomas will be playing in the finals of UAAP boys' basketball.
This, after the Tiger Cubs rode a strong start and a fine finish past Far Eastern University-Diliman, in the Season 87 Final Four, Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The black-and-gold pulled no punches against the Baby Tamaraws right from tip-off, outscoring them 23-11 in the opening salvo.
The next two quarters saw near identical scoring outputs from both squads before UST's defense stiffened up once more, suffocating FEU-Diliman to just eight points in the final frame to seal its spot opposite NU-Nazareth School in the best-of-three title series.
READ: Gutsy NUNS shoots crown off of Adamson's head
This is the Tiger Cubs' first finals appearance since Season 73 back in 2010, when Kevin Ferrer was still in high school and they lost the championship to Kiefer Ravena-led Ateneo.
According to UST shot-caller Manu Iñigo, their four-game winning streak - including a victory vs. the Bullpups - towards the end of eliminations played a big part in their rising confidence ahead of their postseason campaign.
"Siyempre, malaking bagay samin ‘yun na maganda ‘yung momentum namin. Tapos ‘yung confidence ng players, medyo nagpi-peak sila ngayon," he said.
"So right timing lang talaga. Sabi ko nga, tuloy lang nila yung good mindset, enjoy lang namin yung ginagawa namin, magiging maganda rin ang magiging result.”
Iñigo counted all five of his starters in double-digits, as Joaqui Ludovice poured in 16 points and four assists, Koji Buenaflor and Charles Bucsit fired 15 apiece, Kirk Canete scored 10 from three triples, and Racine Kane stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
“Tinrabaho talaga ng boys. Kitang-kita naman natin, talagang kahit sino ipasok ko kanina, nagpapakita eh. Talagang gusto manalo ng boys, sa practices pa lang ramdam na namin,” he added.
As they gear up to go at finals mainstay NUNS, Iñigo disregarded their previous performances and reiterated the team’s need to construct a new strategy.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, balewala na lahat yun. Yung mga naging laro, kung sino mananalo sa first round, secound round, wala na yun. Nung nanalo kami ng 20 points sa kanila sa second round, tapos na yun,“ he said.
“Sabi ko nga, we have to start back sa scratch. Prepare kami ulit sa practices, mas magiging ready pa kami kasi alam naman namin na hindi papayag yung NU na ganun lang uli yung lalaruin nila samin last time. Mag-aadjust yan, so kami rin titignan namin yung mga dapat pa namin mag-adjust para at least, makakuha kami ng panalo ulit,” he added.
The Red Cub-Tiger Cub connection
It was no surprise that Ludovice was one of the biggest factors in the Tiger Cubs' playoff win, as the gunner is one of the players Iñigo is most familiar with.
Before their arrival in España, both shared the huddle for San Beda in the NCAA.
“Matagal ko na rin namang player si Joaqui, nung magkasama pa kami sa San Beda. Kaya naman sumama rin sa'min ‘to kasi nga alam ko naman na fit siya sa sistema namin,” shared the one-time NCAA champion coach.
“Kaya nung nalipat kami sa UST, kinausap ko siya na sama siya sa'min. Nakikita naman namin ngayon talaga na tama naman yung ginawa niya.”
And for Ludovice, falling short of their title aspirations with the Red Cubs and of the finals altogether in his first year in the UAAP was more than enough motivation.
“Same lang din naman po dun sa goal ko dun sa San Beda; gusto po namin makuha yung finals. Pati yung last season namin, natalo kami sa Final Four. Kaya ginamit ko po yun na gas ko po para sa ngayong season,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Baby Tamaraws wrapped up their first season under head coach Denok Miranda outside the championship round.
MVP runner-up Cabs Cabonilas logged a near triple-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds to go along with eight assists, as Marc Burgos topped the scoring column for them with 17 markers.
The Scores
UST 75 - Ludovice 16, Buenaflor 15, Bucsit 15, Kane 11, Cañete 10, Solon 4, Esteban 2, Manding 2, Acido 0.
FEU-DILIMAN 63 - Burgos 17, Cabonilas 15, Raneses 10, Salangsang 6, Pascual 6, Godoy 4, Esperanze 3, Gemao 0, Hall 0, Cagurunga 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 23-11, 46-35, 65-55, 75-63.
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