Action between NU-Nazareth and UST in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball Finals, March 13, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. UAAP Media

MANILA -- National University- Nazareth School has a chance to regain the UAAP boys' basketball crown on Thursday, when it takes on University of Santo Tomas in Game 2 of the Season 87 Finals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Tip off is at 12:00 p.m., with the Bullpups seeking to win their first title since Season 82 in 2020. 

The Bullpups, who suffered a costly 56-76 loss to the Tiger Cubs at the end of the elimination round — denying them an outright finals berth — found redemption last Thursday with a 77-70 victory in Game 1.

Now, they are one win away from securing their eighth overall championship in the division.

READ: Bullpups on brink of boys' title after eclipsing Tiger Cubs

Coming off last season's heartbreak against Adamson, Grade 12 standouts Collins Akowe, Macmac Alfanta, and Chad Cartel delivered crucial performances for NUNS in Game 1.

Akowe, the inaugural recipient of the league's Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, dominated with 24 points and 22 rebounds. Alfanta and Cartel added 14 points each to bolster the Bullpups' attack.

NUNS head coach Kevin De Castro remains cautious despite the series-opening win, knowing UST head coach Manu Iñigo will have his squad prepared in their win-or-go-home battle.

"Siguro proper mindset, siguro coming Game 2, zero-zero, talagang job's not done yet hangga't 'di namin nakukuha yung second win at yung championship," said De Castro, who steered NUNS to the junior high school title last season.

"We'll be ready, alam namin yung UST malaking adjustments gagawin, mag-preprepare yan samin, for sure 'di papayag yan samin Game 2. Pero we'll be ready, dodoblehin namin, tritriplehin namin kung ano yung ginawa namin today."

De Castro is also mindful of UST's imposing frontcourt, with Racine Kane and Koji Buenaflor combining for 40 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1.

Meanwhile, the Junior Growling Tigresses will attempt to complete their mission five years in the making as they aim to clinch the UAAP High School Girls' Basketball title at 10 a.m.

During the inaugural tournament, UST shared the championship with Adamson after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of their winner-take-all Game 3.

The Tigresses made a powerful statement in Game 1, overwhelming the Lady Bullpups with an 85-57 triumph to move within striking distance of a perfect season sweep.

READ: UST girls clobber NU-Nazareth again, one win away from crown

Leading the charge was MVP frontrunner Barby Dajao, who filled the stat sheet with 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Rhiane Perez contributed 16 points and 12 boards, while Lea Pinuela and Sandra Abrantes added 14 points each.

"Kailangan namin mamaintain yung hunger at consistency na meron kami throughout the season kung gusto namin matapos na ito ng Game 2," said Tigresses lead assistant coach Allana Lim.

"Walang mag-iiba sa amin, itutuloy lang namin, at sana matapos na. Kung ano sinimulan nila Coach Sen [Dysangco] dito, which is yung makuha yung championship. Alam namin mag-aadjust yung NUNS sa amin, pero we'll be ready. Para makuha na namin ang inaasam namin," Lim added. Dysangco will return to the sidelines after serving a one-game suspension for violating the cooling-off period protocol.

The Lady Bullpups, however, won't go down without a fight, especially with Gilas Girls standouts Aubrey Lapasaran and Ashlyn Abong leading their charge.

Before the championship matches, the league will recognize its top individual performers at 9 a.m.

De La Salle Zobel's Kieffer Alas and UST's Dajao will be crowned Most Valuable Players in their respective divisions, while Akowe will take home the league's Best Foreign Student-Athlete award.

Joining Alas and Akowe in the Boys' Mythical Team are FEU-Diliman's Cabs Cabonilas, Adamson's Mark Esperanza, and UP Integrated School's Nathan Egea.

Meanwhile, Dajao and Perez headline the Girls' Mythical Team alongside DLSZ's Erica De Luna, NUNS's Lapasaran, and UST's Katrina Insoy.

The top rookies (17-and-under) are UPIS's Jhustin Hallare and Perez.