UST's Koji Buenaflor in action against UE in the UAAP Season 87 high school 3x3 basketball tournament, April 28, 2025 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque. UAAP Media

MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas displayed its intent on Day 1 of the UAAP Season 87 3x3 basketball tournament, with both the Tiger Cubs and Junior Tiger Cubs hurdling their respective foes on Monday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.

In the boys' division, UST leaned on its champion core of Carl Manding, Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit, and Charles Esteban to dispatch the University of the East Junior Warriors, 19-13, while in the inaugural junior high division, Andwele Cabanero, Miguel Jubilado, Dustin Bathan, and Roi Balague exacted sweet revenge on UE's 16-and-under squad with a 13-11 triumph.

"Sabi ng mga coaches namin before the game, laruin lang namin yung laro namin. Pinaghandaan talaga namin ito kasi alam din namin na malakas yung UE, kaya sobra talaga yung effort na ginawa namin," said Cabanero, a Season 87 Mythical Five member.

Joining UST on the winners' board were Far Eastern University-Diliman, Adamson University, and National University-Nazareth School in the boys' division, and NU-Nazareth, UP Integrated School, and Ateneo in the junior high level in this tournament supported by Molten.

The Baby Tamaraws, powered by Salangsang's seven points and four rebounds and Cabs Cabonilas' clutch showing, outlasted Ateneo, 18-15.

A layup by Ateneo's Lans Lagdamen trimmed FEU's lead to 14-13 with 1:04 remaining, but Burgos calmly sank two free throws before Cabonilas iced the game with a dagger layup.

"Need namin i-improve yung communication namin kasi hindi kami nag-uusap-usap sa court minsan eh, tsaka nawawala kami sa depensa. Sa amin lang, gagawin namin yung best namin at kailangan namin makuha yung championship para makarepeat kami," said Cabonilas, the runner-up in the 5-on-5 MVP race.

In other boys' division games, the Baby Falcons (Mark Esperanza, Johnray Abayon, Earl Medina, and Zahir Sajili) took care of business against UPIS, 21-13, while the redemption-seeking Bullpups (Mac Alfanta, Migs Palanca, Tomas Pillado, and Dat Usop) survived DLSZ, 22-20, in an overtime thriller behind Pillado's 10-point eruption.

In junior high play, Ateneo stunned FEU-Diliman, 19-17, thanks to a 13-point explosion from 14-year-old Sky Jazul, while UPIS leaned on Jhustin Hallare's 12 points and eight rebounds to overpower Adamson, 19-14.

NU-Nazareth also remained unscathed across both divisions, with Chester Tulabut lifting the junior high Bullpups with 11 points and eight rebounds in a gritty 20-18 win against DLSZ.

Action resumes tomorrow at the same venue.