Action between UST and NU-Nazareth in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball finals, March 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas lives to fight another day in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament.

This, after the Tiger Cubs fended off National University-Nazareth School, 89-85, in Game 2 of their best-of-3 affair on Thursday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, behind the heroics of graduating players Koji Buenaflor, Charles Esteban, and Carl Manding.

"Credits sa boys, nakita naman na hindi sila nag-panic kahit dumikit, they stayed composed. Nagtiwala sila sa isa't isa, they played defense well nung huli, talagang trinabaho nila para mabuhay pa yung championship aspirations namin," second year Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo said.

After UST built a 72-61 advantage, the Bullpups unleashed a 16-6 run anchored by Nigerian center Collins Akowe, Migs Palanca, and Mot Matias that brought them within one point, 78-77.

However, Manding and Esteban responded with clutch plays: Manding drilled two consecutive corner triples, followed by Esteban's three-pointer, extending UST's lead to a comfortable 87-77 cushion with 2:35 remaining.

The Bullpups, however, refused to surrender. A Chad Cartel triple, two free throws from Akowe, and a late Mac Alfanta three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 87-85 with just 19.2 seconds left.

Unfortunately for NU-Nazareth, they faltered at the last hurdle. Alfanta missed a potential game-tying three-pointer, and Akowe's unconverted layup sealed their fate. Buenaflor then iced the game with two clutch free throws, keeping UST's bid to end a 24-year title drought alive.

The deciding Game 3 of the series is set for next Thursday, March 27 at the same San Juan venue, with UST hoping to win their first UAAP boys' basketball championship since Season 64 (2001).

The Tiger Cubs got the job done even with limited production from Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who battled foul trouble throughout the game. Kane finished with five points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

A key factor in UST's victory was their improved three-point shooting: after going 4-of-26 from beyond the arc in their 70-77 Game 1 loss a week ago, the Tiger Cubs converted an efficient 14-of-37 in Game 2.

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

"Nagbunga itong performance ko dahil inembrace ko yung role ko sa team. As a team captain, dapat ako talaga yung mag-step up diyan kasi ako yung pinaka senior. Ginawa ko lang yung sinasabi nila coach at binigyan nila ako ng kumpiyansa na kahit ilang beses ka sumablay, itira ko lang daw," Buenaflor said.

Buenaflor led UST with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Esteban added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with three rebounds and three assists. Manding contributed 15 points, all coming from three-pointers, along with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

UST's Kirk Canete and Carl Manding celebrates against NU-Nazareth in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball finals, March 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

Co-captain Kirk Canete chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Charles Bucsit added nine points, four rebounds, and two assists.

Meanwhile, NUNS' quest to reclaim the UAAP boys' basketball crown for the first time since Season 82 in 2020 took a major blow.

Despite the setback, history still favors the Bullpups, as three of the last four Game 2 losers in the Finals have gone on to win the championship in a grueling three-game series.

Akowe, who was named the inaugural Best Foreign Student Athlete earlier that day, paced NUNS with a dominant double-double of 28 points, 26 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. Alfanta added 17 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal, but committed eight turnovers.

Palanca, who suffered a minor right foot injury in the second quarter, pushed through the pain to register 15 points, seven rebounds, and one assist in the loss.

The Scores:

UST (89) – Buenaflor 24, Esteban 16, Manding 15, Cañete 13, Bucsit 9, Kane 5, Acido 3, Ludovice 2, Solon 1, Javier 1, Vidanes 0.

NUNS (85) – Akowe 28, Alfanta 17, Palanca 15, Matias 7, Cartel 6, Locsin 4, Pillado 3, Napa 3, Nepacena 2, Solomon 0, Usop 0, Figueroa 0, Natinga 0.

Quarterscores: 22-17, 48-36, 72-61, 89-85