THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs moved one step closer to ending their championship drought with a 98-84 win over the University of the East (UE) in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball finals on Wednesday (11 Dec 2024) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Jhon Canapi was the standout performer for UST, scoring 30 points and adding six rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Miguel Jubilado also impressed with 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Nickson Cabanero contributed 21 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists.

“We just need to prepare well for Game 2 and follow the coach’s plan,” Canapi said, hoping to secure the title on Dec. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST extended its six-game winning streak, including two victories over Far Eastern University-Diliman in the semifinals, to dominate UE, which entered the finals with a 14-1 record.

Despite solid performances from UE’s Ethan Oraa (14 points, six rebounds) and Kiefer Panganiban (14 points), the Junior Warriors couldn’t overcome UST’s well-rounded attack.

The Tiger Cubs will aim to finish the series in Game 2, while UE will look to bounce back and force a decider.