The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs failed to hold their own against the National University Nazareth School Bullpups, 70-77, in the first game of the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball best-of-three finals on Thursday, March 13, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Racine Kane was UST’s topscorer, amassing 25 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, while Koji Buenaflor and Carl Manding contributed 15 and 12 markers, respectively in the losing effort.

The first canto saw Carl Alfanta and Collins Akowe ignite an 8-2 rally for the Bullpups that established an early six-point lead, 11-17.

Manding knocked in a three-pointer in the final seconds of the opening salvo to even the game at the 23-all mark.

Charles Esteban opened the second quarter with a long bomb while Charles Bucsit threw up an alley-oop to Kane that helped the Tiger Cubs gain a two-point edge, 28-26.

Lorenz Cinco and Kane followed up UST’s offensive surge in the waning moments of the first, scoring five buckets to secure a one-point advantage at halftime, 39-38.

NUNS bit back in the third period after back-to-back baskets by Jid Locsin followed by several points from Akowe, Iver Napa, and Miguel Palanca put them up by eight points, 48-56.

The Tiger Cubs simmered down the lead to one after Liam Acido fired up a three-pointer in the last seconds of the third quarter, 62-63.

The Bullpups pulled away once again to start the final canto as a 7-2 blitz through Chad Cartel and Akowe brought NUNS’ lead back to six, 64-70.

An and-one basket from Kane helped the Tiger Cubs cut the lead back to just four, 68-72, but clutch buckets by Cartel and Alfanta sealed the game for the Bustillos-based squad, 70-77.

The Tiger Cubs missed several free throws in the final quarter that could have helped them force overtime against the Bullpups.

Akowe led NUNS’ scoring department, registering 24 points and 22 rebounds, while Alfanta and Cartel recorded 14 markers each in the winning effort.

The UST Tiger Cubs will go up again against the NUNS Bullpups on Thursday, March 20, at the same venue for a chance to tie and extend the series.