After months of grueling battles and two hard-fought finals games, it all comes down to this: One final showdown to determine the champion of University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 high school boys’ basketball tournament.

National University Nazareth School (NUNS) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) collide in a do-or-die Game 3 today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre with everything on the line.

The Bullpups are gunning for their ninth overall title while the Tiger Cubs are aiming to reclaim their throne with what would be their 12th championship in the division that would end a 24-year title drought in the process.

The high-stakes matchup at 12 p.m. will feature a tactical battle between two of the brightest young coaches in the game in Bullpups mentor Kevin de Castro and Tiger Cubs tactician Manu Iñigo.

NUNS took the series opener, 77-70, on 13 March before UST forced a decider a week later with an 89-85 escape.

For De Castro — the top protégé of Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa — the key for the Bullpups is their return to the form that powered their dominant 13-0 start to the season.

“I think, like what I’ve said before the season started, we are here to learn and compete as a team,” De Castro said.

“We’ll take the win but we will also look at our growth — both individually and as a team.”