The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs outlasted the National University Nazareth School Bullpups, 83-77, to claim the crown in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball finals on Thursday, March 27, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The victory was UST’s first UAAP boys’ basketball title since Season 64 in 2001.

UST made UAAP history, achieving the first-ever golden double in high school basketball, with both their boys' and girls' teams clinching the crown.

Racine Kane was hailed the Finals MVP in his first UAAP season, averaging 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 steals, and 1.6 assists all throughout the series.

He propelled UST to a do-or-die victory with 28 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and an assist, while Koji Buenaflor contributed 12 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists.

"After Game 2, Coach Manu talked to me, saying that we need to finish it in Game 3. This is our last year, that's why we really did everything today, both for UST and Coach Manu," Kane said.

Charles Esteban, Carl Manding, Wacky Ludovice, and Kirk Cañete combined for 39 points in the winning effort.

The Tiger Cubs got off to a flying start, unleashing an 18-8 blitz through the offensive might of Kane, Manding, Buenaflor, and Esteban, to secure a six-point edge before the second canto, 24-18.

The boys from España established a 17-point cushion, their biggest lead of the game, courtesy of Ludovice, Esteban, and Manding’s three straight triples, 46-29.

Collins Akowe and Jid Locsin turned in three consecutive conversions to cut the lead to 11 at halftime, 46-35.

UST remained composed in the third quarter as they kept the Bullpups at bay with an 11-point advantage entering the fourth salvo through Buenaflor’s back-to-back jumpers, 60-49.

The Bullpups pounced back in the fourth period, tying the game at 64-all through a 15-4 rally sparked by Iver Napa and Akowe.

The Tiger Cubs failed to pull away for good in the final moments of the fourth canto after Ludovice missed his two free throws, which gave NUNS a chance to force overtime, 74-74.

NUNS found themselves in big trouble when Akowe committed his fifth foul of the game before they headed into overtime.

UST unleashed a 6-0 run in overtime through Kane and Cañete but Mot Matias drilled in a three-pointer to simmer the lead to three, 80-77.

Free throws from Cañete and Kane gave the Tiger Cubs the UAAP title after 24 years of waiting, 83-77.

"Seventeen-point lead nga, pero walang safe na lead against NUNS talaga. Ang vision namin ay win it per quarter kaya wala kaming pakialam kung sino lamang, basta hanggang dulo. Swinerte kami nung overtime kaya kami nanalo," UST head coach Many Inigo said.

Akowe led NUNS with 23 points and 24 rebounds while Palanca contributed 21 markers and 13 boards in the losing effort.

Buenaflor, Bucsit, Manding, Kane, Alfred Loreto, Jude Javier, and Duke Solon will be graduating this year.

With their win, UST remains as the second-winningest team in the boys’ division with 12 titles.