It was point guard Rhayjun Baquial who were among those who decided the fate of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in the fourth seed playoff of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.
After Baquial missed two free throws in the last 8.6 seconds, the Adamson Baby Falcons scrambled to find chances to shoot the last basket in their featured encounter on Wednesday at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.
They had three chances, but two members of the Baby Falcons couldn’t find an opening at the left wing.
And then came Didat Hanapi, who made an attempt past Baquial’s outstretched hands, and after receiving a quick pass to the right wing.
Hanapi, who had 11 points, did find his mark, and his floater attempt could have won the game for the Baby Falcons.
“Last defense na namin iyun. Sabi ni coach bigay ko ang best ko sa depensa,” said the 5’11 Baquial, an 11th grader.
This allowed the Tiger Cubs, who got big baskets from CJ Cansino, to beat the Adamson Baby Falcons, 73-72, in overtime.
Baquial’s heroics and Cansino’s output during their fourth seed playoff encounter handed the Tigers the fourth seeding in the stepladder semifinals.
The 18-year-old Cansino proved why he deserves to be an MVP awardee after he shot 8 of his 24 point output in the extra five minutes.
His drive past Adam Doria in the last 1:13 allowed the Tiger Cubs to take a five-point cushion in the remaining time, 73-68.
Adamson refused to give up and still stepped it up, and they remained close off baskets from Joem Sabandal’s putback and Didat Hanapi’s inside attack, 72-73.
“Kumbaga sa karayom, dumaan ang paa nila sa butas ng karayom. They made it past the first step. The boys deserve this win,” said UST coach Christopher Cantonjos.
The Tiger Cubs, who drew 15 points from Kobe Palencia, will next meet the defending champion Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws in the start of the stepladder semis on Saturday.
John Lina shot 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Tiger Cubs, who are back in the Final Four after five seasons.
Sabandal showed the way for the Baby Falcons with 20 points, with his two freebies off Liam Manabat’s fifth foul in the remaining 13.7 seconds trying match, 63-all in regulation.
Cansino could have won it for UST in regulation, but his triple missed as time expired.
Last year, the Tiger Cubs lost to the Junior Archers, 65-72, in a fourth seed playoff.
