After 39 years, the UE Junior Warriors ended their basketball championship drought by defeating the UST Tiger Cubs in Game 3 of the UAAP Junior High School Finals.
After nearly four decades, a UAAP basketball championship is finally returning to Recto.
The University of the East (UE) Junior Warriors captured the inaugural UAAP Junior High School Basketball title by overwhelming the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cubs, 78-47, in a decisive Game 3 on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
UE last celebrated basketball glory in UAAP Season 48 (1985) when legends Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera led the Red Warriors to a men’s basketball crown.
The Junior Warriors, on the other hand, had not won a high school basketball title since Season 44 (1981), under coach Gabriel Reyala with standout players like Codiñera and the Longalong brothers.
“Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program. As I’ve said before, this would be enough na puntahan kami ng mga players. All of the teams namin sa basketball, puntahan na,” said Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella.
In Game 3, UE seized control early, breaking a 15-all first-quarter tie with a 19-point surge led by Brian Orca and Ethan Oraa.
Defensive anchor Gab Delos Reyes held UST to just eight points in the second quarter, giving UE a commanding 34-23 halftime lead.
The Junior Warriors extended their advantage with a 9-0 run in the third quarter and led by as many as 33 points in what Estrella described as a “perfect game.”
“It’s a perfect game. The boys wanted it. They delivered. Sa gameplan namin, hindi sila bumitaw. In short, they wanted the championship and here it is,” said Estrella.
By the third quarter, the UE community, led by school president Dr. Zosimo Battad, was already celebrating with the UE Drummers in full force.
Estrella credited the school administration and supporters for their role in building the team.
“This is so sweet. This is my first time in the UAAP. Credit to the UE community and, most especially, SGA, Boss Frank, Boss Jared, and Boss Jacob (Lao) for building this team,” said Estrella. “Three months of sacrifices. We went through adversities but we rose above it.”
Derrick Pumaren, the coach who led UE to its first boys’ basketball title in 1972, also lent his support with an inspirational pregame speech.
"We are thankful to Manong Derrick for motivating us with a speech before we headed to the court. Dun na-realize ng mga bata that they were playing for a higher purpose," said Estrella.
Delos Reyes, who averaged 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the Finals, earned Finals MVP honors. He tallied six points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks in Game 3.
Oraa led UE with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar added 11. Orca and Jolo Pascual contributed eight points each, with Orca also grabbing eight rebounds.
UST struggled without Mythical Team member Andwele Cabanero, who was suspended for Game 3 following a Game 2 altercation.
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.
With 10 Junior Warriors moving up to the 19-and-under division next season, Estrella shifts his focus to assisting coach Karl Santos for UAAP Season 87, which begins on January 19 at the same venue.
“I hope this inspires our 19-and-under team,” said Estrella.
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.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 34-23, 54-32, 78-47.