Junior Warriors bag historic UAAP crown

History made.

University of the East (UE) quenched a 39-year basketball title drought with an emphatic crushing of University of Santo Tomas (UST), 78-47, in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior high school finals series Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Taking advantage of the Tiger Cubs missing a key piece due to a one-game suspension, the Junior Warriors broke the game open as early as the second quarter to complete a dramatic come-from-behind best-of-three series victory.

Ethan Oraa submitted 13 points while Enrico Bungar chipped in 11 as UE captured its first basketball title in any division since the then Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera-led Red Warriors lorded over in the men’s competition.

“Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program. As I’ve said before, this would be enough for other players to go to our school. Hopefully, players will flock to all our basketball teams,” Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella said.

Jared Ferreros contributed nine points, Jolo Pascual had eight markers while Brian Orca had eight points and eight rebounds for UE, which bagged its first high school crown since winning it all back in 1981.

Gab delos Reyes was named Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the series. He had six points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks in Game 3.

The Junior Warriors behind Orca and Oraa pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the Tiger Cubs, 19-8, after a tight opening period that ended with both teams locked at 15.

A 9-0 run to open the second half paved the way for the blowout where UE even led by as many as 33 points, 72-39, in the closing minutes of the match that Estrella described as a “perfect game.”

“It’s a perfect game. The boys wanted it. They delivered. They stuck to our gameplan. In short, they wanted the championship and here it is,” he said.

The Junior Warriors had been dominant all season-long, absorbing only two losses: an 81-66 defeat to the Far Eastern University-Diliman during the eliminations and a 98-84 setback in Game 1 of the finals.

UE turned the series around with a hard-fought 76-70 win in Game 2 to force the decider.

UST struggled without its ace Andwelle Cabanero, who was slapped with a one-game ban following his ejection in Game 2 for hitting Neil Garcia twice during a loose ball.

Without the Mythical Team member to stabilize the Tiger Cubs, UST shot a dismal 20.5 percent from the field, including a woeful 1-of-31 from beyond the arc.

Dustin Bathan led UST with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while fellow Mythical Team member Jhon Canapi managed just 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting. MARK ESCARLOTE

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.