The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs vanquished the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws to end a 14-year finals appearance drought, 75-63, in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament, on Sunday, March 9, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The last time UST stepped into finals stage was in Season 73 in September 2010 where Juniors’ MVP Kevin Ferrer languished against the 14-0 Ateneo squad led by Kiefer Ravena.

All UST starters were in double-digits as Wacky Ludovice led the helm with 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Koji Buenaflor and Charles Bucsit both chipped in 15 markers, while Racine Kane and Kirk Cañete sank in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Tiger Cubs asserted their dominance with a 13-1 rally led by Buenaflor who chimed in six straight points to end the opening frame, 23-11.

UST held on to a double-digit lead despite an early 7-1 blitz launched by the Baby Tamaraws, courtesy of timely shots made by the Golden Cubs’ starters, 46-35.

UST continued to stretch their lead out by 18 points, but FEU responded with an 8-0 run midway through the third quarter, 59-49.

Racine Kane extinguished the run with an and-1 play, 62-49.

FEU kept the Tiger Cubs in check courtesy of eight straight points from Marc Burgos and Cabs Cabonillas to hold the margin by ten coming into the final quarter, 65-55.

The Baby Tamaraws started to charge back at the Tiger Cubs with their pesky defense, but UST’s shooting stroke remained formidable as Bucsit hit a big-time three-pointer to put UST back up by 14 with 2:11 remaining, 73-59.

Cabonillas shot four consecutive buckets but it was all too little, too late, as UST punched a ticket to the finals, 75-63.

Burgos and Cabonillas carried the Baby Tamaraws in scoring with 17 and 15 points, respectively.

The last time the Tiger Cubs hoisted the boys’ championship was in Season 64 in 2001.

The UST Tiger Cubs look to extend their winning streak to 13 games as they go against the National University-Nazareth School Bullpups in a best-of-three finale with the schedule yet to be announced by the league.