NU-Nazareth's Migs Palanca in action against UST in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' 3x3 Basketball Tournament, May 3, 2025 the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque. UAAP Media
MANILA -- National University Nazareth School clinched the final semifinal berth in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' 3x3 Basketball Tournament after exacting revenge on University of Santo Tomas, 21-17, on Saturday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
Just a month removed from being swept in three games by UST in the 5-on-5 tournament, the Bullpups came out with a chip on their shoulder, eliminating the Tiger Cubs and dashing their hopes for a golden double.
Migs Palanca led the charge with 10 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while fellow Grade 12 standout Macmac Alfanta contributed nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Bullpups ended the eliminations tied with the Adamson Baby Falcons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles at 4-3, but earned the No. 3 seed via the quotient system.
Far Eastern University-Diliman swept the elimination round after edging Adamson, 18-15, while University of the Philippines Integrated School stunned Ateneo de Manila University, 14-12.
Despite the loss, the Baby Falcons secured the No. 2 seed with a total of 128 quotient points, followed by NU with 124 and Ateneo with 108.
READ: Jake Figueroa stars as NU outplays FEU to secure top seed in semis
In the semifinals on Sunday, top seed FEU-Diliman will face Ateneo, while Adamson takes on NU Nazareth School in a knockout match.
UST concluded the tournament in fifth place with a 3-4 slate and 122 quotient points, while UPIS also had a 3-4 record but trailed with 112 points. UE (2-5) and DLSZ (1-6) settled for seventh and eighth, respectively.
In a thrilling preview of Sunday's girls' final, the UST Junior Growling Tigresses outlasted archrival NUNS Lady Bullpups, 20-18, in overtime.
UST's Barby Dajao in action against NU-Nazareth in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls' 3x3 Basketball Tournament, May 3, 2025 the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque. UAAP Media
Down 18-16 with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation, Rhiane Perez forced extra time with an and-one conversion.
In the race-to-two overtime, reigning 5-on-5 MVP Barby Dajao took over, scoring on a tough drive before sealing the win with a fadeaway jumper.
Perez and Dajao finished with eight points apiece as both teams prepared to face each other again for the gold at 3 p.m. on Sunday in this tournament also supported by Molten Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Junior Lady Archers leaned on Ateneo-commit Erica De Luna, who delivered a dominant double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds to lead her team past the Blue Eagles, 21-12. They will compete in the third-place match at 1 p.m.
In the junior high school boys division, Ateneo completed a perfect 7-0 sweep of the elimination round after narrowly escaping semifinalist UPIS, 21-19.
The two teams will open Sunday's hostilities at 10 a.m., followed by the clash between FEU-D and UST at 10:20 a.m.
The Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Tiger Cubs enter the semifinals with strong momentum, having defeated the Baby Falcons (21-18) and Bullpups (21-7), respectively.
Defending 5-on-5 champions, the Junior Warriors, capped off their campaign on a high note with a 22-18 win over the Junior Archers.
UPIS and UE both finished the eliminations with 4-3 records, but UPIS secured the semis slot with a superior quotient, 130-119.