UST, UE clash for all the marbles

Game today:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

10 a.m. — UST vs UE

University of the East (UE) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) battle for all the marbles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 junior high school best-of-three finals today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Both looking to end a title drought, the Junior Warriors and the Tiger Cubs go at it one last time after splitting their first two meetings. The 10 a.m. kill-or-be killed duel promises to be exciting for the equally matched squads.

It will all boil down to who wants it more.

The Junior Warriors survived elimination after outworking the Tiger Cubs down the stretch, 76-70, in Game 2 last Sunday.

Carrying the momentum of its series-equalizing win, UE wants to take advantage of a defanged UST, which will be missing a double-double machine in Andwele Cabañero due to a one-game suspension.

Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella reminds his team to keep focused on their goal of ending a 39-year wait for a return to the basketball throne.

UE’s last UAAP basketball title came in Season 48 (1985) when the Allan Caidic-led men’s squad toppled UST’s twice-to-beat advantage — adding more drama to the showdown.

“That’s the motivation — to bring UE another championship,” Estrella said.

“As I’ve said, we told them not to give up. And then we won (Game 2), so why surrender? We went through a lot both in and out of the court. Why let this opportunity slip off our hands.”

Mav Mesina, who had 21 points last game, Neil Garcia and Gab delos Reyes lead UE in its attempt to finally taste glory.

On the other hand, the Tiger Cubs will have an even more challenging climb back to the top of the high school division after a 23-year dry spell.

UST hurdled twice-to-beat Far Eastern University-Diliman in the Final Four before taking the finals series opener, 98-84, only to hit a brick wall in Game 2 which saw Cabañero sent off just three minutes into the match.

The Mythical Five member got ejected for striking Neil Garcia twice during a scramble for the loose ball.

Without Cabañero, the trio of Jhon Canapi, Dustin Bathan, and Miguel Jubilado will need to double their effort for the Tiger Cubs.

“I will have to make adjustments in my rotation of players and their positioning because Cabañero’s absence is a big loss for us. We have to play good defense and execute well. We don’t need to rush and just be composed,” UST coach Noli Mejos emphasized.