UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) won its first-ever Philippine Collegiate Championship League title by pulling off a pulsating 81-76 win over Ateneo de Manila University in Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

After a 19-all deadlock in the first quarter, the Growling Tigers caught the Blue Eagles off-balance in the second period with sophomore Kevin Ferrer hitting nine of his 21 points to provide them a 45-39 advantage at halftime.

“After all our sacrifices, we finally won a title against one of the nation’s best collegiate teams,” said Ferrer, who hit three triples and made 6-of-10 shots in the field in addition to his nine rebounds and four assists. “This victory is very sweet.”

The Blue Eagles, winner of five consecutive titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball crowns, threatened the Growling Tigers at the end of third frame (57-60) and at the last minute of fourth period.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena and Ryan Buenafe, who posted 20 points each, joined forces down the last two-minute mark as they made clutch baskets and sank important free throws to cut UST’s 12-point lead to only 76-79 with 39 seconds remaining.

But Ferrer scored on a put back after Karim Abdul’s miss to provide UST an 81-76 lead with 10.5 ticks left. Ateneo’s Buenafe muffed a three-pointer and Jeric Teng secured the rebound as the final buzzer sounded.

Teng, who copped the league’s Most Valuable Player trophy, finished with 22 points on 5-of-8 shooting beyond the arc along with six rebounds, while Jeric Fortuna had 11 points and Abdul contributed eight points and nine rebounds.

“We really worked hard to win the championship and we’re happy that we got it,” said UST mentor Pido Jarencio, who also won the Best Coach award.

UST won Game 1 of the series (82-76) but Ateneo managed to force a do-or-die game after winning Game 2 (70-69).

Beside the championship trophy, the Growling Tigers will also take home the P700,000 purse.