Lady Bullpups throttle La Salle-Zobel in UAAP HS Girls Basketball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Girls Basketball Tournament Standings

NUNS 2-0
UST 1-0
Ateneo 0-1
DLSZ 0-2

Games Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – AdU vs Ateneo (Boys)
10 a.m. – NUNS vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – FEU-D vs UE (Boys)
2 p.m. – UST vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST (Girls)

National University Nazareth School showcased its strength once again, delivering an emphatic 86-44 victory over De La Salle Zobel to remain undefeated in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

Coming off a historic 94-point win over Ateneo de Manila University last week, the Lady Bullpups gained valuable momentum ahead of their highly anticipated matchup against Season 82 co-champion University of Santo Tomas on February 6, at the same time and venue.

Aubrey Lapasaran, the 17-year-old guard from Cebu, continued her stellar play, contributing 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting, along with seven assists, five rebounds, and five steals. Zaydhen Rosano, the 16-year-old forward, also stepped up with 20 points, eight rebounds, eight steals, and four assists in the victory.

"Excited kami makalaban UST, pero at the same time, we have to prepare very well kasi UST is a tough team to beat. We've been playing them during summer leagues, at talagang hirap na hirap kami. Kahit pa galing kami sa dalawang panalo, we need to have an almost perfect game for us to win, hindi kami pwede magkaroon ng maraming lapses," said Lady Bullpups head coach Camilla Escoto.

NUNS’ defense was exceptional in the second period, where they held DLSZ to just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting with 12 turnovers, allowing them to build a commanding 34-point, 52-18 cushion by halftime.

Although the Junior Lady Archers had a stronger showing in the third quarter, scoring 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting, the Lady Bullpups still maintained a dominant 68-32 lead heading into the final period.

NUNS continued their relentless play in the fourth quarter, outscoring the short-handed DLSZ lineup 18-12 to secure the win and take the solo lead in the four-team league with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Lady Bullpups dominated in rebounds (55-26), assists (23-10), and steals (22-13), en route to their second consecutive victory of the season.

Ashlyn Abong posted a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, one block, and one assist, while KJ Badajos added 11 points, five assists, one rebound, and one steal.

After a tough 62-point loss to UST last Sunday, DLSZ fell to 0-2 in the standings. Ercia de Luna led the Junior Lady Archers with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with seven rebounds, four steals, and one assist. Sofia Martinez contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

DLSZ will look for their first win when they face Ateneo on February 9, Sunday, to close the first round of UAAP girls' basketball action.

Fifth Game (Girls):

NUNS (86) - Lapasaran 22, Rosano 20, Abong 14, Badajos 11, Pascua 6, Avila 4, Katigbak 4, Trinidad 2, Bretania 2, Sales 1, Aycardo 0.

DLSZ (44) - De Luna 21, Martinez 12, Reyes 7, Cordero 2, Notarte 1, Navarro 1, Vibanco 0, Poral 0.

Quarterscores: 26-11, 52-18, 68-32, 86-44.

NUNS remain unscathed in HS Boys Basketball, with La Salle-Zobel securing best start in 8 years

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament Standings

NUNS 4-0
UST 3-1
FEU-D 3-1
DLSZ 3-1
UE 2-2
ADU 1-3
Ateneo 0-4
UPIS 0-4

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – AdU vs Ateneo (Boys)
10 a.m. – NUNS vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – FEU-D vs UE (Boys)
2 p.m. – UST vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST (Girls)

REIGNING MVP Collins Akowe powered National University Nazareth School to a commanding 75-59 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, keeping the Bullpups undefeated in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Akowe continued his stellar play, recording his fourth consecutive double-double with 25 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. His dominant performance has fueled NUNS’ unbeaten run, with an average winning margin of 16.5 points.

“Mahirap hindi maging complacent ‘eh. We’ll try our best na dapat hindi sila maging complacent. Patuloy lang namin sila ippush sa practice, hindi lang ako, pati yung mga assistant coaches tulad nila coach Jeff [Napa],” said NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro.

Ateneo trailed for most of the game but remained within striking distance in the fourth quarter. A quick five-point burst from Jay-m Leal cut the deficit to 59-48 with 7:56 remaining.

However, Akowe, Chad Cartel, and Mot Matias took over, leading an 11-0 run capped by back-to-back inside baskets from Akowe and Matias. This surge extended NUNS’ lead to a game-high 70-48 with 3:35 left, sealing the victory.

Cartel delivered an efficient outing with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, along with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Matias added 10 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

Ivler Napa contributed nine points, two assists, and one rebound, while Macmac Alfanta tallied seven points, three assists, and two rebounds. Miguel Palanca, despite struggling with his shot (2-of-8 for four points), made an impact with nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel pulled off a statement win, taking down defending champion Adamson University with a thrilling 77-69 triumph.

The Junior Archers matched their best start in UAAP boys’ basketball in nearly a decade.

Leading the charge was Kieffer Alas, who once again delivered in the clutch, receiving ample support from rookie Melvin Tailan and team captain Maco Dabao.

Their efforts handed the Baby Falcons their second loss in three games.

With the win, DLSZ improved to 3-1 for the first time since Season 78 in 2016, when they were led by Aljun Melecio and Marco Sario. They now share second place with University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman, all with 3-1 records.

“It’s a good win. This is a big win for us, this is a character win for us. The test of a good team is against a great team, so this is a good omen, but it’s still an omen. We still have to work on the next three games,” said Junior Archers head coach Boris Aldeguer.

Tailan, a key piece of DLSZ’s UAAP 16-and-under squad last semester, ignited the Junior Archers’ fourth-quarter surge with back-to-back three-pointers. His hot shooting turned a slim 45-44 lead into a 58-46 advantage with 6:05 left.

Adamson refused to go down without a fight, responding with a 9-2 run to trim the deficit to 60-55. However, Alas and Dabao came up big in crunch time, draining two three-pointers each to push DLSZ’s lead back to 72-61 with just 1:12 remaining.

That barrage of triples proved crucial as the Junior Archers withstood Adamson’s final push. The Baby Falcons managed to cut the deficit to 74-69 with 23.5 seconds left but ran out of time.

Alas finished with a dominant 24-point performance on 8-of-13 shooting, adding 14 rebounds and six assists. Dabao contributed 12 points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal, while Bonn Daja had 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Tailan chipped in eight points, five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. Ken Atienza also made an impact with eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal.

With the loss, Adamson fell to 1-3, marking its worst start in the post-pandemic era.

Mark Esperanza led the Baby Falcons with 18 points, seven assists, three steals, and two rebounds, while CJ Umali added 16 points, four steals, three rebounds, and two assists.

Gabe de Jesus chipped in 12 points and three rebounds, while Earl Medina struggled from the field (3-of-11) but still tallied nine points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two blocks.

Ateneo, meanwhile, remains winless at 0-4, tied with the University of the Philippines Integrated School at the bottom of the standings.

Leal led the Blue Eagles with 18 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Chris Urbina nearly notched a double-double, finishing with eight points, nine assists, three steals, and one rebound.

TJ Delos Santos and Nathan Asistio also added eight points each in the loss.

Third Game (Boys):

NUNS (75) - Akowe 25, Cartel 11, Matias 10, Napa 9, Alfanta 7, Palanca 4, Figueroa 4, Bouzina 3, Locsin 2, Nepacena 0, Usop 0, Casala 0, Lucido 0, Natinga 0.

Ateneo (59) - Leal 18, Urbina 8, Delos Santos 8, Asistio 8, Tan 5, Ymasa 4, Reyes 3, Trinidad 3, Lagdamen 1, Kallos 1, Lacsamana 0, Espinas 0, Kaw 0.

Quarterscores: 24-14, 37-26, 54-43, 75-59.

Fourth Game (Boys)

DLSZ (77) - Alas 24, Dabao 12, Daja 10, Tailan 8, Atienza 8, Arejola 5, Favis 5, Espinosa 5, Borrero 0, Mben 0, Alpapara 0, Reguera 0.

AdU (69) - Esperanza 18, Umali 16, De Jesus 12, Medina 9, Perez 5, Penafiel 3, Sajili 2, Murillo 2, Tumaneng 2, Artango 0, Abayon 0, Matilliano 0.

Quarterscores: 22-12, 37-33, 45-41, 77-69.

Tiger Cubs claim third straight win

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – AdU vs Ateneo (Boys)
10 a.m. – NUNS vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – FEU-D vs UE (Boys)
2 p.m. – UST vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST (Girls)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas staged a late rally to defeat University of the East, 69-59, securing its third consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University-Diliman bounced back into the win column with a dominant 84-60 victory over a struggling University of the Philippines Integrated School squad.

With these wins, both the Tiger Cubs and the Baby Tamaraws now hold identical 3-1 records, sharing second place in the standings.

Coming off dominant wins against UPIS and defending champion Adamson University, UST found itself in a tough battle against UE.

The Tiger Cubs relied on the tandem of Gilas Youth standout Wacky Ludovice and Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who led a decisive 10-3 run to seal the win.

“Nakaka-adjust din yung kalaban, nakikita yung style of game namin. We expected na magiging tight yung game kaya sinabihan namin yung boys sa practice pa lang na we have to be ready for UE kasi last year hindi kami nakaisa diyan ‘eh,” said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo.

After UE trimmed its deficit to 59-56 with 6:52 remaining—courtesy of a layup by Ivorian center Jean Bana and a three-pointer from Kristoper Lagat—Ludovice and Kane took over. The Tiger Cubs also tightened their defense, forcing crucial errors from UE’s Ethan Aguas and Nicolash Lorenzo in the final minute.

Kane, the 6-foot-7 forward from Senegal, delivered a monster performance with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Ludovice added 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Co-captain Kirk Cañete contributed across the board with eight points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Charles Esteban chipped in seven points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.

With the loss, UE dropped to an even 2-2 record.

Aguas paced the Junior Warriors with 15 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Bana also tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, five blocks, and two steals.

Edry Alejandro had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, adding three steals and a block, while Lance Sabroso chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Reeling from a 75-58 loss to National University Nazareth School last Sunday, FEU-D overcame a strong first-quarter surge from UPIS and dominated the rest of the game despite missing key personnel.

Xyrus Gemao served a one-game suspension after receiving a disqualifying foul against NUNS, while head coach Denok Miranda was with FEU-D’s 16-and-under team, which is set to compete in the Japan B.League Under-16 Tournament from January 30 to February 3.

“As a senior coach, nag-takeover ako for this week. Nag-respond sila sa game plan namin kasi sinasabi ko nga sa kanila na porket UPIS kalaban natin, which is mababa sa standing, syempre dapat manggigil din tayo tulad kung paano sila manggigil sa atin,” said Baby Tamaraws assistant coach Bert Flores.

UPIS started strong with a 20-8 first-quarter lead, but FEU-D answered with a commanding 28-12 second-quarter surge, flipping the momentum and taking a 42-32 advantage at halftime.

Despite a late push from UPIS, which trimmed the deficit to 68-56 with under seven minutes left, the Baby Tamaraws responded with a 12-2 rally—highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Liam Salangsang—to build an 80-58 cushion and put the game away.

Salangsang led five Baby Tamaraws in double figures with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, along with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Marc Burgos flirted with a double-double, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Jheremy Godoy also chipped in 15 points, while Cabs Cabonilas tallied 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and one steal.

Mico Pascual added a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, along with a steal and a block.

Halfway through the season, UPIS remains winless at 0-4, with an average losing margin of 30.8 points per game.

Bruce Tubongbanua led UPIS with 16 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Rocco Melicor also scored 16 points with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Nathan Egea added 12 points, five rebounds, three steals, and one assist.

Jhustin Hallare struggled with six points on 2-of-10 shooting, while Jaime Gomez de Liano was limited to just three points on 1-of-8 shooting.

The Scores:

First Game (Boys):

UST (69) - Kane 24, Ludovice 11, Cañete 8, Esteban 7, Manding 6, Buenaflor 6, Bucsit 5, Solon 2, Catalan 0, Acido 0.

UE (59) - Aguas 15, Bana 15, Alejandro 11, Sabroso 10, Diaz 4, Lagat 4, Bual 0, Chua 0, Timbol 0, Almanza 0, Lorenzo 0, Dahino 0, Roquid 0, Cuevas 0, Abellar 0.

Quarterscores: 18-23, 41-37, 55-49, 69-59.

Second Game (Boys):

FEU-D (84) - Salangsang 16, Burgos 15, Godoy 15, Cabonilas 12, Pascual 10, Esperanza 4, Hall 3, Raneses 3, De Guzman 2, Santos 2, Castillejos 2, Maierhofer 0, Dagcutan 0.

UPIS (60) - Tubongbanua 16, Melicor 16, Egea 12, Hallare 6, De Liano 3, Uvero 3, Poquiz 2, Coronel 2, Hernandez 0, Rosete 0, Pascual 0, Cobico 0, Gepitan 0, Mariano 0.

Quarterscores: 14-20, 42-32, 62-47, 84-60.

FEU maintains hold atop UAAP HS Football

 

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Standings

FEU-D 9 points (+9)
UST 7 points (+7)
DLSZ 7 points (+2)
Ateneo 3 points (-1)
SRG 0 points (-5)
CSQC 0 points (-12)

Matches on Saturday
(UP Diliman Football Stadium)
2 p.m. — FEU-D vs DLSZ
4:30 p.m. — Ateneo vs UST
7 p.m. — CSQC vs SRG

FAR Eastern University-Diliman continued its dominant run in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament, securing a 2-0 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

The Baby Tamaraws extended their perfect start to the season with three consecutive wins, maintaining their place atop the standings with nine points. More impressively, the defending champions have yet to concede a goal.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle Zobel bounced back from last Saturday’s draw with crucial victories over guest schools.

UST overpowered Claret School of Quezon City, 5-1, while La Salle edged PAREF Southridge, 1-0, bringing both teams to seven points in the standings.

With the match still goalless at halftime, FEU-Diliman broke through in the second half.

Striker Joerby Anito opened the scoring in the 48th minute, and substitute Jerriemy Biton doubled their lead just two minutes later, netting his third goal of the season.

For Baby Tamaraws head coach Jake Morallo, the win was especially gratifying after a first half where his squad created chances but struggled to finish.

“Game plan namin was to play direct to get behind yung backline nila,” Morallo explained. “I thought that if we did that, we’d have the advantage (dahil) mas eager at mas mabilis yung attacking side namin. Nagpasok kami ng mga fast players but then hindi siya na-utilize. There were chances pero hindi lang talaga namin na-score.”

“Pero dalawang side yung pinlanuhan namin dun eh—na ma-sustain din namin yung play namin from the first half. Even though walang score dun na nangyari, nagawa pa rin ng boys sa first half. In the second half, I think maganda yung adjustment (at) nagkaroon ng early goals sa first five minutes.”

La Salle’s Geoffrey Marqueses, a product of Villamor Air Base Elementary School, delivered the game’s lone goal with a composed finish from close range.

Junior Green Booters captain Bacchus Ekberg had two opportunities to extend La Salle’s lead from free kicks, but Southridge goalkeeper Juan Paolo Tansingco made crucial saves to keep his team in the game.

Southridge had its chances late in the match, with Zechariah Casillano and Francis Poticano coming close to an equalizer.

However, La Salle goalkeeper Jacob Salavante denied Casillano, while Poticano squandered a golden opportunity from a set-piece play.

“This is the battle of Muntinlupa, right?” said La Salle’s Ghanaian head coach Ayi Nii Aryee. “I think both teams prepared well, and you can see it was a 50/50 game, especially in the first half. We got chances and were able to score one. They had chances but were not able to score.

"Our objective for the second half was if we don’t get to score, then they don’t get to score.”

Junior Golden Booters midfielder Yuan Maniscan led the charge for UST, scoring in the 31st and 40th minutes.

Spain-bound Joshua Moleje added another in the 37th minute, giving last season’s finalists a comfortable three-goal cushion by halftime.

“Yun naman yung hinihintay ng boys eh na may maka-score na una,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “Pag wala pa kasi yung first goal, medyo hindi pa sila ganun ka-relax sa game at di pa masyadong nag-wo-work lahat.

"Pero once naka-score (si Yuan), medyo naka-relax na, medyo naka-hold na yung bola at medyo nakaatake na kami.”

After having an earlier attempt saved by Claret goalkeeper Ethan James Moreno, substitute Joshua Balliner netted UST’s fourth goal in the 82nd minute.

 Another substitute, Argos Phrixus Alingalan, capped off the rout with a goal in stoppage time (90+2’).

Claret managed to pull one back through Rolando John Torres in the 59th minute, but it was merely a consolation.

With the win, UST climbed to second place in the standings with a goal difference of +7, edging out La Salle (+2) for the spot.

PNVF set to hold National U21 men’s volleyball championship

PNVF U21 championship

Aside from the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship this coming September, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation is set to hold other major domestic and international competitions both on the taraflex and the sands.

Set to commence today is the inaugural edition of the Men's Under-21 Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with eight participating teams.

The field is split into two four-team groups for preliminary action, with Group A composed of Volleyball Never Stops (VNS), Silay Volleyball Club (SVC), Zamboanga City, and Lingayen. VNS and SVC will kick off the tournament at 9am today, followed by Zamboanga-Lingayen at 1130am.

Group B will have Umingan Volleyball Club (UVC), Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, City of Naga-Cebu Volleyball Club (CNV), and the University of the East. UVC-NDDU will take place is the group's opener at 2pm, with CNV-UE set to cap off opening day action at 430pm.

Prelims will continue until Friday, with the semifinals scheduled on Saturday. The inaugural champion of the competition is slated on Sunday.

PNVF President Ramon Suzara says about the competition, "The Under-21 championship is part and parcel of the national team  program that aims to maintain the production line of talents for international competitions."

Supporting the U21 Championship are Akari, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Meralco, PLDT, Smart, AyalaLand, Nuvali, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Rebisco, Cignal, OneSports, OneSports+ and Pilipinas Live.

Also scheduled to take place this year at the Nuvali Sand Courts are a few major beach competitions, namely the National Beach Volleyball Championships in February, as well as the second edition of the Nuvali Open this coming April.

Aside from the AVC Beach Tour event, the City of Santa Rosa will also has a FIVB World Beach Pro Tour Futures leg.

Filipinas set for February camp

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Football Federation is to hold a training camp for the Senior Women's National Football Team next month, kicking off its busy year ahead.

Serving as the culmination for the camp is an intrasquad exhibition on February 25 at the Mall of Asia Football Field, which is already nearing completion. The event is slated to start at 6pm.

Head Coach Mark Torcaso says about the upcoming camp, "I’m really looking forward to having the Filipinas back in action at home, where the supporters in Manila can get a chance to experience the team up close, in one of the city’s new and exciting football venues. With the ASEAN Women’s Championship and the Asian Cup Qualifiers taking place midyear, and the SEA Games being held in December, there’s a lot to play for in 2025. This camp gives us a great opportunity to continue building the foundation for the way we want to play. We cannot wait to be back home to showcase our Filipinas."

PFF Senior Director for National Teams Freddy Gonzalez adds, "The Filipinas haven't spent much time at home since their historic World Cup run, so it's a really good opportunity for all the fans to connect with the team, and for our players to savor the experience of playing in front of their supporters. I can't think of a better way to introduce the new Mall of Asia Football Field to the Philippine public. Nine days of solid work at home, familiarizing with one another and with Coach Mark's game model will be a great way to start a big 2025 for the Filipinas."

The Filipinas aim to successfully defend their title in the ASEAN Women's Championship, while also secure a medal at the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand. They are also set to start their quest to return to the AFC Asian Cup finals after their success in the previous edition allowed them to make their FIFA Women's World Cup debut.

UST dominates in return of UAAP HS Girls 5-on-5 Basketball

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Girls Basketball Tournament Standings
NUNS 1-0
UST 1-0
DLSZ 0-1
Ateneo 0-1

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre
8 a.m. – UST vs UE (Boys)
10 a.m. – FEU-D vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – NUNS vs Ateneo (Boys)
2 p.m. – AdU vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Girls)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas made an emphatic debut in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls Basketball Tournament, overpowering De La Salle Zobel with a dominant 112-50 victory to open its title defense on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Junior Growling Tigresses, the co-champions of the inaugural tournament back in UAAP Season 82 with the Adamson Baby Falcons, wasted no time making their presence felt, with 16-year-old guard Rhiane Perez leading the charge.

Perez, a Grade 10 student from Iloilo, erupted for 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, along with seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists, as UST showcased their strength under head coach Arsenio Dysangco, who took over the program from Aileen Grajales in Season 82.

“After a long vacation nung aming girls, nags-tart na rin kami bumalik sa training where medyo off pa yung timing. Pero today, I’m very happy sa naging effort ng girls and with the way we played, we still have a lot to learn and correct pero given enough time, I’m sure they will get that rhythm going,” Dysangco shared.

The Junior Growling Tigresses quickly turned the tide after DLSZ began to close in during the second quarter. A dominant 20-3 run gave UST a commanding 51-20 lead at halftime, and they never looked back.

UST capitalized on DLSZ’s 14 turnovers in the third quarter, shooting an efficient 11-of-21 from the field, to build a 49-point, 81-32 lead entering the final period. The Junior Growling Tigresses continued their strong play, outscoring DLSZ 31-18 in the fourth quarter to seal their first UAAP 5-on-5 girls basketball win since March 6, 2020 and join idle NUNS at the top.

Perez was well-supported by Jannah Wenceslao, who posted a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds with three steals.

Kassandra Tambawan also had an impressive outing, finishing with 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, adding six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.

Grachelle Boteros contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Barby Dajao and Sybil Onate each chipped in nine points.

UST’s next test will come against Ateneo de Manila University next Sunday, February 2, at the same time and venue.

For DLSZ, Erica de Luna led the charge in the losing effort with 15 points, four rebounds, and one steal.

Sofia Martinez added 10 points, three rebounds, and one assist.

Princess Cordero finished with eight points, five rebounds, and one assist, while Irish Notarte contributed six points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Fifth Game (Girls):

UST (112) - Perez 21, Wenceslao 17, Tambawan 13, Boteros 12, Dajao 9, Onate 9, Pinuela 6, Floreindo 6, Abrantes 5, Anonuevo 3, Villarin 3, Insoy 2, Banate 2, Petalcorin 2, Arciaga 2.

DLSZ (50) - De Luna 15, Martinez 10, Cordero 8, Notarte 6, Navarro 5, Reyes 3, Ogario 3, Vivanco 0, Dominguez 0, Poral 0.

Quarterscores: 27-13, 54-20, 81-32, 112-50.

Bullpups down Baby Tamaraws in HS Basketball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament Standings

NUNS 3-0
UST 2-1
UE 2-1
FEU-D 2-1
DLSZ 2-1
ADU 1-2
Ateneo 0-3
UPIS 0-3

Games Thursday FilOil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – UST vs UE (Boys)
10 a.m. – FEU-D vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – NUNS vs Ateneo (Boys)
2 p.m. – AdU vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Girls)

In a showdown between two undefeated teams, National University Nazareth School stood tall, outpacing Far Eastern University-Diliman with a dominant 75-58 victory to remain the only unbeaten squad in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Sunday.

After a commanding 39-25 halftime advantage, the Bullpups never looked back, securing their third consecutive win while handing the Baby Tamaraws their first loss of the season.

Through their three-game streak, NUNS holds an impressive average winning margin of 16.6 points.

“Medyo masaya kasi nakuha namin yung panalo, pero marami pa rin talaga room for improvement. Mahaba pa yung season, third win pa lang namin pero marami pa need matutunan. Pero after this game, we’re very happy naman dahil nasunod yung game plan,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro.

The Baby Tamaraws made a push in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to within 12 points after a free throw by Sam Hall.

However, the Bullpups responded quickly with a 10-4 run, entering the fourth quarter with a commanding 57-39 lead.

That run gave NUNS the breathing room they needed, and they held off any further comeback attempts by FEU-D, finishing with a 19-18 fourth quarter performance to extend their winning streak to three games.

The loss was made even more bitter for the Baby Tamaraws after a disqualifying foul was called on Xyrus Gemao following an altercation with Alnhumaeri Usop with 17.3 seconds left in the game.

Reigning MVP Collins Akowe led the charge for the Bullpups with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal while Macmac Alfanta added 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

After convincing victories over the Baby Falcons and the Blue Eagles in their first two games, the Baby Tamaraws suffered their first loss of the season.

Gilas Youth member Cabs Cabonilas was limited to 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting, alongside eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas overcame a third-quarter rally from reigning champion Adamson University, securing an 84-68 win for their second consecutive victory.

The Baby Falcons cut a 19-point deficit to just 56-54 heading into the final period, but the Tiger Cubs relied on Senegalese forward Racine Kane, graduating forward Charles Bucsit, and Gilas Pilipinas Boys member Charles Esteban to dominate the fourth quarter with a 28-14 run to seal the win.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, magrrun ‘yan, babalik ‘yan dahil champion team yan. Hindi yan papayag matalo ng basta-basta. I just reminded them in the third quarter na kahit makabalik sila, we have to make our own run. And buti nakarespond naman kami nung fourth,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.

A layup by Zahir Sajili kept Adamson within four points early in the fourth quarter, at 60-56, but Bucsit and Kane combined to stretch the lead to 75-61 with 3:19 remaining.

 Despite a five-point spurt from Sajili and CJ Umali, the Tiger Cubs held firm. Esteban’s back-to-back layups sealed the game for UST, extending their lead to 81-68 with 1:21 left.

Kane continued his stellar play with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, one assist, and one block.

Bucsit poured in 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding five rebounds and four assists while Esteban contributed 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

With losses to FEU-D and UST, Adamson's title defense has started shakily, as it dropped to sixth place with a 1-2 record.

Esperanza led the Baby Falcons in their second loss with 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals.

Earl Medina added 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal, while Umali chipped in 12 points with four rebounds and two steals. Sajili finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Third Game (Boys):

UST (84) - Kane 19, Bucsit 18, Esteban 14, Canete 7, Manding 7, Acido 7, Buenaflor 6, Ludovice 3, Bandingan 3, Cinco 0, Solon 0, Catalan 0, Bohol 0.

AdU (68) - Esperanza 16, Medina 12, Umali 12, Sajili 11, Artango 4, Murillo 4, Abayon 4, De Jesus 4, Perez 1, Jenodia 0, Garcia 0, Matilliano 0.

Quarterscores: 19-5, 37-25, 56-54, 84-68.

Fourth Game (Boys):

NUNS (75) - Akowe 19, Alfanta 10, Cartel 9, Nepacena 8, Usop 8, Palanca 6, Solomon 5, Locsin 4, Napa 3, Lucido 2, Bouzina 1, Matias 0, Figueroa 0, Casala 0, Natinga 0.

FEU-D (58) - Cabonilas 11, Raneses 10, Gemao 9, Pascual 8, Salangsang 8, Hall 5, Burgos 4, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 1, Maierhofer 0, Santos 0, Cagurungan 0.

Quarterscores: 25-13, 39-25, 57-39, 75-58.

UST outlasts Adamson, earns third girls' semifinal ticket

UAAP Season 87 High School Beach Volleyball Standings

Girls

*NUNS 4-0

*UST 3-1

*FEU-D 3-1

AdU 1-3

UPIS 1-3

DLSZ 0-4

*Final Four

Boys

UST 4-0

NUNS 3-1

AdU 3-1

FEU-D 2-2

DLSZ 2-2

UE 1-3

UPIS 1-3

Ateneo 0-4

DEFENDING girls' champion University of Santo Tomas booked one of two remaining Final Four slots as Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar withstood a tough second set stand by Adamson University's Ella Gonzalvo and Maegan Pineda, 21-10, 23-21, Sunday in the UAAP Season 87 high school beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.

National University Nazareth School became the solo leader as the pair of Vilmarie Toos and Faith Mangyao defeated Far Eastern University-Diliman's Sheena Cafe and Sheena Pascual, 21-17, 21-14, to improve to 4-0.

The three-peat-seeking Tiger Sands improved to 3-1 to rebound from last Saturday's loss to the Bullpups, tying the Baby Tamaraws in second place.

UP Integrated School secured its first-ever girls' beach volleyball victory as Janella Guarino and rookie Anya Capus outlasted De La Salle-Zobel's Aislinn Alemaña and Kylie Celada, 21-15, 21-16.

The Junior Fighting Maroons and the Baby Falcons are now tied in fourth place at 1-3. UPIS and Adamson dispute the remaining Final Four on Friday morning.

Celada replaced Valdez before the match but it was not enough for the Junior Lady Spikers to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

In the eight-team boys division, UST extended its unbeaten run to four matches and moved closer to securing a place in the Final Four as Michael Lagaran and Lance Malinao overwhelmed UPIS' Terren Villanueva and Marcus Bamba, 21-4, 21-5.

Titleholder NUNS stretched its winning streak to three after dropping its opener as Wayne Dionela and Kian Tan needed only 25 minutes to beat De La Salle-Zobel's Antonio Papa and Mario Roxas, 21-7, 21-11.

Adamson's Brice Malinao and Gian Ygot topped University of the East's Clarence Gianan and Buenaventura Limpin, 21-10, 21-15, in the morning session.

The Bullpups and the Baby Falcons are joint second at 3-1.

FEU-D regained its winning ways as Zedrick Calimlim and Sam Coronel pulled off a 21-7, 21-5 romp of Ateneo's Ken Nicolas and Santiago Avila, 21-7, 21-5, in the afternoon match lasted for only 26 minutes.

The Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Green Spikers are now level at 2-2.

De La Salle-Zobel split its two matches after a Saturday off as Papa and Roxas bested Ateneo's Nicolas and Avila, 21-15, 21-16.

The Junior Warriors and the Junior Fighting Maroons are now at 1-3.

Action resumes on Friday, with three girls and four boys playing matches at the same Pasay sand court.

Bounce back triumphs for UE, Zobel

c/o UAAP

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre
8 a.m. – UST vs UE (Boys)
10 a.m. – FEU-D vs UPIS (Boys)
12 noon – NUNS vs Ateneo (Boys)
2 p.m. – AdU vs DLSZ (Boys)
4 p.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Girls)

University of the East roared back from its last setback, dismantling University of the Philippines Integrated School, 104-60, while De La Salle Zobel edged archrival Ateneo de Manila University in an overtime thriller, 73-65, to return to the win column of the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Junior Warriors wasted no time recovering from their 66-75 loss to defending champions Adamson University Baby Falcons last Thursday.

On the other hand, Kieffer Alas carried DLSZ through regulation, with Bonn Daja stepping up in overtime to secure their second extra-period victory this season.

With their bounce-back wins, UE and DLSZ improved to identical 2-1 records.

“Happy ako because nag-adjust at bumawi yung mga boys namin. Pero again, mataas yung expectations ko sa team na ito… Kami, tinalo kami ng UP last year, which was their only win. The only thing we have to do is respect the opponent,” said UE head coach Karl Santos.

UE set the tone early, racing to a 55-26 halftime lead behind the hot shooting of Kristoper Lagat and Lance Sabroso, who combined for 25 points in the first two quarters.

The Warriors' blistering start overwhelmed the Maroons, who struggled with a 9-of-26 shooting clip and committed 15 turnovers in the opening half.

UE weathered a third-quarter push from UP and sealed the deal with a 30-15 fourth-quarter blitz.

The Junior Warriors shot an impressive 40-of-72 (55.6%) from the field and dominated the boards (40-29), assists (20-8), and steals (14-6).

UE’s balanced attack featured eight players scoring at least eight points.

Lagat led the charge with 14 points, including 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, while Sabroso added 13 points, two assists, one rebound, and one steal.

Louie Bual contributed 10 points, three steals, and two rebounds, with Xedric Diaz adding nine points and four assists.

Ivorian center Jean Bana, Edry Alejandro, Kyle Timbol, and Mhico Abellar also chipped in solid performances to cap off the commanding win.

In the other morning game, DLSZ relied on Alas and Daja to overcome a resilient Ateneo side in a nail-biter.

Alas scored eight of the Junior Archers’ 13 fourth-quarter points, while Daja delivered clutch back-to-back and-one layups in overtime to secure the victory.

“We seem to like overtime games. Sana lahat ng games overtime kasi medyo good result lagi. It showed the heart of these guys. These guys and their resilience, that’s what propelled us to this win today,” said DLSZ head coach Boris Aldeguer.

Trailing 65-64 after a Ziv Espinas layup, Daja’s heroics gave DLSZ a 70-65 lead with just over a minute left in the extra period.

Ateneo had opportunities to close the gap, but costly turnovers from Jay Leal and Lans Lagdamen allowed the Junior Archers to pull away.

A game-sealing layup by Alas and a free throw by Ken Atienza cemented the win.

Alas finished with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block. Daja added 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Maco Dabao and Champ Arejola contributed eight points each.

Ateneo and UPIS remained winless in three games, falling to 0-3 records.

For UPIS, Jhustin Hallare tallied 17 points and eight rebounds, while Nathan Egea and Jaime Gomez de Liaño chipped in 13 points apiece. However, their efforts fell short against UE’s relentless assault.

Ateneo’s Leal led the Blue Eagles with 14 points, six rebounds, and one steal.

Espinas posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and two assists as Chris Urbina, Ateneo’s leading scorer in their previous game, was limited to 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting but contributed seven rebounds and three assists.

The Scores:

First Game (Boys):

UE (104) - Lagat 14, Sabroso 13, Bual 10, Diaz 9, Alejandro 9, Bana 9, Timbol 8, Abellar 8, Aguas 4, Roquid 4, Almanza 4, Chua 3, Farochilen 3, Lorenzo 2, Dahino 2, Cuevas 2.

UPIS (60) - Hallare 17, Egea 13, Gomez de Liaño 13, Tubongbanua 7, Melicor 5, Pascual 3, Addatu 2, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0, Gepitan 0, Cobico 0, Rosete 0, Uvero 0, Poquiz 0.

Quarterscores: 30-16, 55-26, 74-45, 104-60.

Second Game (Boys):

DLSZ (73) - Alas 22, Daja 10, Dabao 8, Arejola 8, Borrero 6, Espinosa 6, Thailand 4, Favis 4, Mben 2, Gubat 2, Atienza 1, Reguera 0.

Ateneo (65) - Leal 14, Espinas 12, Urbina 11, Ymasa 8, Lagdamen 6, Tan 4, Lacsamana 4, Reyes 3, Kallos 2, Delos Santos 1, Asistio 0.

Quarterscores: 15-17, 32-33, 48-44, 61-61, 73-65.

FEU-D nips Southridge to earn consecutive wins

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Standings

FEU-D 6 points (+7)

UST 4 points (+3)

DLSZ 4 points (+1)

Ateneo 3 points (+1)

SRG 0 points (-4)

CSQC 0 points (-8)

Matches on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

2 p.m. — UST vs CSQC

4:30 p.m. — DLSZ vs SRG

7 p.m. — FEU-D vs Ateneo

JERRIEMY Biton found the breakthrough as defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman rose to its familiar place at the top of the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament by breaking down stubborn PAREF Southridge School, 1-0, on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

The recruit out of Himamaylan Elementary School delivered a fantastic finish at the face of the goal in the 67th minute to propel the Baby Tamaraws to first place in the standings with six points and a plus-7 goal difference.

“Biton, para sa akin, he’s always doing good (and) doing well naman,” said Baby Tamaraws coach Jake Morallo, whose crew is seeking a 13th straight title. “Kailangan lang siguro mag-create (ng) more chances with timing sa penetration and yung focus kase sa first half medyo off talaga siya. I think nag-work out yung gameplan namin sa second half so masaya kami nasunod nila yung gameplan namin.”

On the other hand, De La Salle Zobel and University of Santo Tomas continued their unbeaten start to the competition by canceling each other out with a goalless in the last match of the play date.

Throughout the match, the Admirals defended resolutely against the Baby Tamaraws.

Southridge almost stole a goal early in the second half as winger Joziah Kendrick Rance had an attempt at goal that went straight at Baby Tamaraws goalkeeper Gianne Carlos Abara.

After Biton broke the deadlock for FEU-D, Rance had another chance to put the ball at the back of the net for Southridge, only for his tame attempt to be easily caught by Abara.

Substitute Dionesio Diaz was in a good place to double the Baby Tamaraws’ cushion, yet he could only shoot wide as FEU-D did enough to claim its second straight win this season.

“Para sa akin, maganda yung game to be honest,” said Morallo. “In fairness naman sa Southridge, they are very disciplined (with) having a back five sa defending positions nila. Really difficult na maka-score kami.

“We were struggling sa first half then in the second half, I think mas gumanda yung laban namin. Mas nakikita namin sa second half yung winning mentality namin so happy pa rin sa panalo namin today,” he continued.

With each team coming off an opening-day win, La Salle and UST played an entertaining stalemate to go level on four points in the standings with the Junior Golden Booters claming second place with a plus-3 GD to the Junior Archers’ plus-1.

UST forward Lucky Aque had a chance in the first half to open the scoring but his attempt went straight to La Salle goalkeeper Jacob Salavante.

Come the second half, La Salle midfielder Giomell Gigataras had a shot blocked while the Junior Archers had a penalty claim waived away by referee Ricardo Dela Cruz.

Aque then thought he was through on goal to give the Junior Golden Booters a winner in stoppage time, but he was called for offside as his shot went over the bar anyway due to pressure from a Junior Archer defender.

For both schools’ coaches, the draw was a fair result and a point earned.

“Maganda yung laro ng La Salle,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “Medyo kailangan pa namin i-improve yung team. Medyo may gusto kami i-execute today. Siyempre yung boys di dapat mag-relax. Yung mabigay namin yung intensity na kailangan for that game, dapat malabas ng boys.”

“UST is a strong contender,” said La Salle coach Nii Ayi, “Last season, they were in the finals. The season before that, we were in the finals and they kicked us from there. Going into this game, they pretty much had the same squad compared to ours.

“We were missing some players but it was a good game. They had their chances but couldn’t score. We had our chances but we couldn’t score. We will accept the draw,” added the Ghanian mentor.

Meanwhile, the first game of the afternoon saw Ateneo enjoy a resounding 3-1 victory over Claret School of Quezon City.

With the game tied at 1-1 during the halftime break, the Blue Eagles banked on John Molina’s 60th-minute strike to regain the lead and Shawn Perea’s clinical finish in the 90+10 minute to seal their first win of the campaign.

Earlier in the contest, Jose Andres Hizon opened the scoring in the 28th minute for Ateneo, which was coming off a narrow 1-0 defeat to archrival De La Salle Zobel last week and finished the week in fourth place with three points and a plus-1 GD.

“I’m so happy,” said Blue Eagles coach JP Merida. “Why? Because after, I forgot when was the last time I was the head coach of the Ateneo juniors, so after how many years, this is my first win again. I am very happy with the result even if we didn't play really good in the first half. Of course, coming from a loss, this is a good bounce back win looking toward the game against FEU-D.”

As for Claret, Filmart Tacardon equalized in the 42nd minute for the Red Roosters to also score the guest school’s first goal in UAAP history.

Southridge and Claret have yet to register points this season with the former in fifth place with a minus-4 GD and the latter in sixth place with a minus-8 GD.

Mongolia set to join EASL

The East Asian Super League is already looking ahead to its future, announcing that it will add another league to its ranks starting next season.

Joining the EASL is the champion of The League from Mongolia, as it continues to gather the best basketball teams from across the continent.

In making the announcement, EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins shares, "We’re excited to welcome ‘The League’ to EASL and support the growth of Mongolian basketball. This partnership is a landmark achievement that’s never been done before. It’s a testament to our commitment to elevating basketball across Asia and uniting the region’s best talent. Partnering with Mongolia’s ‘The League’ ensures that EASL teams will compete against strong, well-prepared opponents, raising the level of the game for everyone involved."

Mongolian Basketball Association Secretary-General Tugsjargal Sambuu says, "This marks a historic milestone for Mongolian basketball. For the first time, the best teams from our professional league will compete against Asia’s basketball powerhouses, highlighting our talent, resilience, and dedication to the sport. This opportunity not only elevates our league and the level of competition but also serves as a powerful inspiration for a new generation of players and fans in Mongolia. We are thrilled to showcase Mongolia’s basketball talent to hundreds of millions of fans across Asia."

The League is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this season, and the upcoming champion will be the lone country representative for the EASL. This comes a couple of days after FIBA relaunched its BCL Asia-East, which will feature Mongolia and five other countries, and includes current EASL teams New Taipei and Taoyuan.

The league also notes potential updates for the upcoming 2025-26 season will be revealed in due course.

NUNS impose will in first HS Girls Basketball game post-pandemic

c/o UAAP

NATIONAL University Nazareth School wasted no time establishing its dominance in the UAAP High School Girls' Basketball Tournament, delivering a historic 109-15 victory over Ateneo de Manila University on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Bullpups’ 94-point victory set a new UAAP girls basketball record for the largest winning margin, surpassing the previous mark of 85 points set by University of Santo Tomas in a 112-27 win over Ateneo during Season 82 on January 25, 2020.

“Natutuwa kami sa panalo dahil first-ever UAAP game namin ito,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Camilla Escoto. “Pero yung sa margin, hindi na kasi namin tinitignan yung score. Gusto lang namin magperform and marepresent nang maayos yung school on a big stage.”

NUNS started hot, outscoring Ateneo 40-2 in the opening quarter. The Blue Eagles managed just one field goal in the period, courtesy of Cesca Pangilinan at the 8:03 mark.

By halftime, the Lady Bullpups had extended their lead to 66-8, forcing 40 turnovers and holding Ateneo to just 4-of-10 shooting.

The second half was no different, as NUNS held Ateneo scoreless in the third quarter with a dominant 24-0 run, pushing their lead to an insurmountable 90-8 heading into the final period.

Ateneo scored only three times in the second half, with Tyler Templo contributing a triple and a layup and Pia Lo adding a floater late in the game.

The Lady Bullpups’ inside presence was overwhelming, as they outscored Ateneo 94-4 in the paint. Their defense was equally suffocating, forcing a total of 58 turnovers and racking up 38 steals.

Aubrey Laparasan led NUNS with 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds, while Zaydhen Rosano matched her output with 20 points, adding eight steals, three rebounds, and three assists.

Haikka Aycardo and Ashlyn Abong each scored 12 points, combining for 14 rebounds and six steals. Rebekkah Pascua and Ashley Trinidad chipped in 10 points apiece in a well-rounded team effort.

NUNS will face another test when they take on the De La Salle Zobel Junior Lady Archers next Thursday, January 30, at the same venue.

Pangilinan paced Ateneo with six points—all in the first half—along with five rebounds and the game’s only block. Templo added five points and five rebounds for the Blue Eagles.

Meanwhile, Ateneo will aim to bounce back against the UST Junior Growling Tigresses on Sunday, February 2.

Fifth Game (Girls):

NUNS (109) - Lapasaran 20, Rosano 20, Aycardo 12, Abong 12, Pascua 10, Trinidad 10, Katigbak 8, Sales 6, Avila 6, Bretania 3, Badajos 2.

Ateneo (15) - Pangilinan 2, Templo 5, Burdeos 2, Lo 2, Exconde 0, Linaza 0, Gozum 0, Molina 0, Bacayo 0, Bernardo 0, Doque 0, Cacanindin 0, Lee 0.

Quarterscores: 40-2, 66-8, 90-8, 109-15.

Vikings FC acquires Maharlika FC

c/o Vikings FC

Vikings FC shared their English language release of their decision to take over PFL side Maharlika FC. Details can be read below.

Taiwanese football club Vikings FC (VFC) has officially completed the acquisition of 100% ownership of Philippine club Maharlika FC, marking a new era for the team as it looks to elevate its performance in the Philippines Football League (PFL) where it currently sits at 9th place as the first round ends.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Vikings FC will take full control of Maharlika FC's operations, ensuring financial stability and strategic development as the club moves forward. Maharlika will be retaining its players on contract, while welcoming a significant number of players from VFC on loan.

Strengthening the Squad with VFC Players

To reinforce Maharlika FC’s roster for the remainder of the season, Vikings FC will loan several key players to the club, bringing experience and skill to enhance Maharlika’s competitiveness in the PFL, whilst providing the Taiwan players valuable game experience. The loaned players will integrate into the squad immediately, with the goal of boosting the club’s performance and securing positive results in the league.

Speaking on the acquisition, Chen,Huang-Teng, Vikings FC's team leader, stated: 

"We are excited to embark on this new journey with Maharlika FC and to contribute to the growth of football in the Philippines and Taiwan. Our immediate focus is to strengthen the squad through the loan of our talented players and to work closely with the team to achieve their goals for the remainder of the season. We believe this partnership will bring mutual benefits and elevate the level of football in both Taiwan and the Philippines."

Maharlika FC’s former owner, Anton del Rosario, also expressed his optimism for the club’s future:

"We are thrilled to see Maharlika FC take this next step under the leadership of Vikings FC. This transition ensures the club's continued growth and stability, and we are confident that the support from Vikings FC will help the team reach new heights in the PFL."

A New Vision for Maharlika FC

With Vikings FC at the helm, Maharlika FC will undergo strategic enhancements aimed at improving player development, operational efficiency, and fan engagement. The club will continue to play its home matches in the PFL while adopting best practices from VFC’s successful football model in Taiwan.

They have appointed as Head Coach Jung Donggyu, former Korea Youth National Team player and AFC “A” license holder. As a collegiate player Coach Donggyu won multiple championships with the Far Eastern University and most recently served as an assistant coach at Stallion Laguna FC.

The Vikings FC management is committed to upholding the values and heritage of Maharlika FC while introducing modern techniques and resources to advance the club’s competitiveness both domestically and regionally.

Fans can expect exciting updates as Vikings FC works towards revitalizing Maharlika FC’s brand and performance on the pitch. For viewers in Taiwan, they can watch Maharlika FC’s matches live on matchday.ph.

Key Korean appointment seen to help PNVF drive needed attention for Men's World Championship

PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and Jeon Yongjun (fourth and fifth from left) with PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal (right) and marketing head Raoul Floresca (fourth from left) and top officials of the NEOCOLORS P&A Inc. in Seoul

Expect a slight Korean touch for the upcoming FIVB Men's World Championship later this year.

Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon Suzara appointed Jeon Yongjun as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations of the Local Organizing Committee for the event, which takes place in September at both the SMART-Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Suzara made the announcement during an official visit he made in Seoul last week, as one of his responsibilities as both the Asian Volleyball Confederation president and the FIVB executive vice president. Accompanying him in the visit is PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal and marketing head Raoul Floresca.

He shares about the appointment, "We wish to create opportunities for South Korea in the world of volleyball," noting that Jeon is expected to integrate Korean marketing and promotional strategies towards the MWCH, with the idea that companies would utilize pop culture to help influences consumer behavior, especially with Korean participation in the competition.

Suzara adds that his role is "pivotal in driving the success and visibility of the prestigious event," and notes that Jeon was recommended by NEOCOLORS P&A Inc. Chief Development Officer Choongwon Su, the exclusive advertising agency and promoter for South Korean and a major partner with the PNVF. The Korean will be the latest addition to the LOC currently co-chaired by William Vincent Araneta Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Cristina Garcia Frasco. The LOC is seeking to build on the previous edition's reach of 1.5 billion views on television as well as online, which made it the biggest volleyball event in history.

Slotted in Pool C with France, Argentina, and Finland, Korea is one of the teams considered to be one of the fan favorites for the hosts. According to Suzara, "Filipinos are excited to watch the South Korea National Team and will be equally excited to welcome Korean brands," and is potentially eyeing a popular K-Pop Group to make an appearance in the Opening Ceremonies.

He concludes, "The world championship is a big opportunity for the Asian and Korean companies to be known to the billions of viewers around the world and to expand their businesses to the Philippines and Southeast Asia."

EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros claims NBTC North Luzon Regional crown

courtesy of Bon Arevalo/NBTC

CAMANAVA remains the Kings of the North.

EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros swept their way to the 2025 edition of the SMART-NBTC North Luzon Regional Championship, completing their undefeated run with an 87-72 victory over Luid Kapampangan on Sunday at the Central Luzon State University Gymnasium at the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

Kenneth Avila was named as the Regional Most Outstanding Player for his performances throughout the tournament, capped off by an eleven-point, six-rebound, two-assist, and three-block stint in the final to ensure a seven-match sweep.

The boys from the northern part of NCR used a strong start to establish themselves and never looked back. Bobet Monterozo scored nine of his thirteen points in the opening period to help his team erect a 28-14 lead after the first quarter.

Ace Baldomero and Richmond Montejo both contributed eleven points each, as they matched last year's feat of Yengskivel Sportswear in becoming both the champions of CAMANAVA and the North Regional.

Although they fell short in the final, Nikko Tipino led Luid Kapampangan with seventeen points and four boards, while Alexis Riño tacked on fifteen points, five boards, and six assists for the Pampanga powerhouse.

Also earning their spots at the National Finals as Regional Wildcards are DPR Aviation College from Plaridel, Bulacan, and i-Achievers Modern College.

The former earned their ticket with a 94-84 victory over Ilocos side Nagbukel National High School. Yhano Micorhain Lacsarum drilled six treys on his way to finishing with 24 points in the matchup.

As for the latter, the squad from General Mamerto Natividad dispatched fellow province-mates Nueva Ecija D'Generals, 84-83. Blyz Taculad completed their comeback from being down twelve in the final five minutes with his tip-in with six seconds remaining.

Joining Avila in the All-Regional team are Rino, Thyrone Barcena (Nagbukel), John Lord Cruz (DPR), and Rain Martin (D'Generals).

Regional action continues in the tournament presented by SM Supermalls and Playtime Cares, and supported by Adidas, Molten, Swish, and JProject, as it is the turn of the Mindanao leg to take the spotlight on February 6-9 at Oroquieta City.

UAAP girls' basketball returns after five-year hiatus

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games on Thursday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre

8 a.m. - DLSZ vs NUNS (boys)

10 a.m. - UE vs ADU (boys)

12 p.m. - Ateneo vs FEU-D (boys)

2 p.m. - UPIS vs UST (boys)

4 p.m. - NUNS vs Ateneo (girls)

FOR the first time in five years, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines is bringing back the girls’ basketball tournament.

The inaugural tournament, held during UAAP Season 82, concluded with Adamson University and the University of Santo Tomas being declared co-champions after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Finals.

This season, UST will return alongside Ateneo High School, De La Salle-Zobel, and National University Nazareth School for this demonstration event, which tips off on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

NUNS head coach Camilla Escoto, a former women’s basketball player, expressed her excitement about the tournament’s comeback.

“Very happy and very excited about it kasi I believe, we just need to start somewhere and it will start growing. Ganun ang women's basketball eh. Bigyan mo lang ng platform and they will perform and start becoming more. Although there are only four teams pa lang for this season, it’s a good start. We just really need to start,” said Escoto, who led NUNS to victories in the National Basketball Training Center’s girls’ division and the UAAP girls’ 3x3 tournament last year.

NUNS will begin its campaign against Ateneo at 4:00 p.m. The girls’ games will follow the boys’ games on each game day, scheduled on Sundays and Thursdays.

Junior Growling Tigresses head coach Arsenio Dysangco emphasized the importance of having a high school division in the UAAP to ease the transition of student-athletes to the collegiate level.

“I am extremely delighted that after a four-year hiatus, our young girls finally have their own tournament to showcase their talents. This tournament is also critical in the development of women’s basketball because starting them early gives them a better chance at reaching their fullest potential as basketball athletes,” said Dysangco, who has served as a long-time deputy for Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong.

“As for our girls’ basketball team, we just want them to always play to the best of their ability, with passion and heart, and represent our beloved university well. Our mainstays Grachelle Boteros and Barby Dajao from Bacolod serve as the pillars of our program. They will try and lead our team this coming season,” he added, as UST prepares to face DLSZ on January 26.

Several prospects from UAAP Season 82 have already made their mark in collegiate basketball.

Inaugural MVP Cris Padilla, along with Kat Agojo, is leading the charge for the Lady Falcons. Brigette Santos and Nicole Danganan have excelled with the Growling Tigresses, while Katelyn Cancio is thriving as a homegrown Blue Eagle. Former Jr. Tigress Rachel Lacayanga has also found her place with the University of the East.

Ateneo head coach PJ Navarro expressed optimism about his team’s debut.

“I expect lots of positivity and I am enthusiastic for our girls going into this tournament. I am hopeful they are able to execute well in the games what we have been training these past months. Team captains Chesca Pangilinan and Jian Exconde, along with Tyler Templo, Matia Molina, and Cheska Gozum, are our players to watch out for,” he said.

Junior Lady Archers head coach Louie Fernandez echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the tournament's significance for talent discovery and development.

“This is very important. Aside from WNCAA, this is a great avenue for the girls to show that they can play basketball, especially at the high school level. As young as 12, 13, or 14, we can discover talent here. They will be prepared for bigger leagues in the future. The whole women’s basketball community will benefit a lot, and also the Gilas program,” said Fernandez, whose team will be led by Naima Navarro, Aveh Cordero, and 14-year-old prodigy Sofia Martinez.

For Escoto, the return of the tournament marks a milestone for women’s basketball.

“Napakalaki! Honestly, nakakataba ng puso. I've been here for a while already, even during the time na halos wala pang tournaments and support for women’s basketball, and to see and have all of it now, it’s overwhelming,” said Escoto, whose Lady Bullpups will be led by Gilas Girls standouts Aubrey Lapasaran and Ashlyn Abon.

“Of course, all of this won’t be possible without the people working so hard to make it happen—Gilas Women’s program with Coach Pat Aquino’s success, Atty. Mariana (Lopa) tirelessly serving women’s basketball, and all the players elevating the game. This is what makes women’s basketball exciting. Every year, iba iba yung story and they’re all very colorful and inspiring to see,” she added.

Katipunan schools stumble in UAAP HS Basketball opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament Standings

NUNS 1-0
UE 1-0
FEU-D 1-0
DLSZ 1-0
UPIS 0-1
Ateneo 0-1
ADU 0-1
UST 0-1

Games Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Boys)
10 a.m. – UE vs AdU (Boys)
12 noon – Ateneo vs FEU-D (Boys)
2 p.m. – UPIS vs UST (Boys)
4 p.m. – NUNS vs Ateneo (Girls)

UNIVERSITY of the East spoiled the head coaching debut of Ford Arao, taking down Ateneo de Manila University with an 88-80 victory to open its campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Second-year guard Kristoper Lagat shined to give the Junior Warriors a fitting opening to their campaign, contributing 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds, one steal, and one block.

In the last game, De La Salle Zobel dashed University of the Philippines Integrated School’s efforts to score its first victory in over a year, leaning on the clutch heroics of Kieffer Alas and Bonn Daja in overtime to claim a gritty 79-77 win.

With the win, UE’s pursuit to break a 22-year Final Four and title drought is off to the right start under the guidance of second-year head coach Karl Santos.

“Isang pamilya kami ‘eh… Mas gutom kami ngayon kasi as much as possible, gusto namin na since nakuha na ng 16-under, kami naman. We know it’s gonna be hard, but motivation din sa amin ‘yon na may 20+ years drought, secondly, nagchampion yung 16-under team namin,” Santos said.

A blazing start to the payoff period allowed UE to establish an 11-point cushion, 80-69, with 5:45 left after a floater by Xedric Diaz and a top of the key triple from Lagat.

However, a quick seven-point spurt from Ziv Espinas and Alfonso Tan trimmed Ateneo’s deficit to four with less than 2:30 remaining.

The Junior Warriors’ comfortable start to the fourth quarter paid dividends as they withstood the Blue Eagles’ late rally, sealing the opening day victory with a layup from Diaz and two inside hits from Lance Sabroso to gain an 86-76 lead with 1:07 left.

In UE’s opening day triumph, Sabroso chipped in 14 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, while Louie Bual contributed 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Martin Almanza was the fourth Junior Warrior in double figures with 11 points, three steals, and two assists.

Meanwhile, after being limited to 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting in regulation, Alas went off in overtime by contributing six of seven Junior Archers points to go along with two rebounds in the extra period.

DLSZ took advantage of the absence of UPIS topscorer Bruce Tubongbanua in overtime, who was fouled out at the 4:36 mark, while limiting the Fighting Maroons to a woeful 1-of-6 shooting in the process.

After Jhustin Hallare trimmed the lead to one with a floater at the 2:18 mark, Alas and Daja connived for a four-point spurt, built on a triple and a free throw, respectively, to give the the Junior Archers a 79-74 cushion with 1:23 remaining.

A quick three-point spurt from Rocco Melicor kept UPIS in the 79-77 contest with 26.4 seconds left, but Season 86 Rookie of the Year Nathan Egea’s triple-double outing was spoiled as his potential game-tying layup was blocked by Daja at the buzzer.

The Fighting Maroons last won a game across both the U-19 and U-16 divisions last January 14, 2024, where they triumphed over the Junior Warriors with an 80-71 decision.

“We were expecting UP to be really hungry for a win, and then they have a new system and a new coach, so it’s really a new UP team that we’re seeing… But it’s a good win, we’ll take whatever win we can get. First game jitters were there, but good thing we held on,” DLSZ head coach Boris Aldeguer said.

Daja ended the day with a crucial double-double effort of 21 points and 15 rebounds to go along with two steals, one assist, and one block. Alas, who played his first formal game since spraining his ACL last June, tallied 16 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one block.

Maco Dabao chipped in 15 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals, one assist, and one block.

Ateneo center Jay Leal tallied 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block in the losing effort, while Tan scored 18 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Espinas chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block, while Chris Urbina nearly tallied a double-double with eight points, 10 assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

Egea paced UPIS in the loss with a triple-double effort of 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to go along with three steals, while Tubongbanua powered its scoring punch with 19 points to go along with nine rebounds, two steals, and one block.

Melicor tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, and one steal, while Jaime Gomez de Liaño chipped in 11 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and one block.

The Scores:

Third Game (Boys)

UE (88) – Lagat 16, Sabroso 14, Bual 12, Almanza 11, Bana 8, Diaz 7, Lorenzo 7, Alejandro 4, Chua 2, Aguas 2, Timbol 2, Cuevas 2, Dahino 1, Farochilen 0.

Ateneo (80) – Leal 19, Tan 18, Espinas 12, Urbina 8, Delos Santos 8, Lacsamana 8, Gatmaitan 4, Reyes 2, Aquino 1, Kallos 0, Asistio 0, Ymasa 0.
Quarterscores: 25-24, 44-47, 69-62, 88-80

Fourth Game (Boys)

DLSZ (79) – Daja 21, Alas 16, Dabao 15, Favis 7, Espinosa 5, Atienza 4, Lopez 4, Reguera 3, Tailan 2, Mben 2, Arejola 0, Alpapara Jo. 0, Alpapara Ja. 0, Borrero 0.

UPIS (77) – Tubongbanua 19, Melicor 15, Egea 14, Gomez de Liaño 11, Hallare 11, Uvero 7, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0.
Quarterscores: 14-14, 31-31, 52-56, 72-72, 79-77

FEU-D stuns defending champ Adamson in opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Boys)
10 a.m. – UE vs AdU (Boys)
12 noon – Ateneo vs FEU-D (Boys)
2 p.m. – UPIS vs UST (Boys)
4 p.m. – NUNS vs Ateneo (Girls)

CABS Cabonilas and Far Eastern University-Diliman gave head coach Denok Miranda a winning debut, overcoming a late rally from defending champion Adamson University to secure a 75-71 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament opener on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Cabonilas, a member of the Gilas Youth team, showcased his national team experience by delivering an impressive double-double performance of 25 points and 17 rebounds, along with four assists and four steals.

“Nag-stick lang kami sa game plan. Kung ano yung game plan namin sa practice, adjust lang ng onti kasi may kumpyansa naman ako dito sa mga bata ko na maoovercome nila. Yung mga naexperience namin over the past seasons and session sa ensayo, nakatulong ‘yon para sa pagbawi namin ngayong season,” said Miranda, the former head coach of the FEU Tamaraws.

Meanwhile, reigning MVP Colins Akowe put on a dominant display for National University-Nazareth School, registering a monstrous double-double of 21 points, 26 rebounds, and four blocks to power the Bullpups to a 71-60 wire-to-wire win over University of Santo Tomas.

Adamson staged a 16-5 run to close the third quarter with a 46-43 lead.

However, FEU-D countered with a decisive 19-4 surge in the final period, building a commanding 62-50 cushion with 5:52 left.

The Baby Falcons clawed back behind Mark Esperanza, Henry Penafiel, Earl Medina, and CJ Umali, cutting a 12-point deficit to just one, 70-69, with 1:37 remaining.

Cabonilas, however, delivered in the clutch, scoring four of the Baby Tamaraws' final five points, highlighted by a crucial three-pointer and a free throw that sealed their opening-day win.

The rebounding battle proved to be the key difference, with FEU-D dominating the boards 52-38.

Marc Burgos provided strong support for FEU-D with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Liam Salangsang added an all-around effort of 17 points, two rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

NUNS, later in the day, raced to a commanding 48-27 halftime lead against UST.

The Tiger Cubs mounted a spirited second-half comeback, trimming the deficit to just 10, 65-55, with 5:52 left in the game.

However, Akowe’s timely layups gave the Bullpups breathing room, pushing their lead to 69-58 with 2:16 remaining.

A layup from Carl Alfanta and a crucial turnover by Tiger Cub Charles Bucsit in the final 30 seconds secured the Bullpups' victory.

Akowe, who set the boys’ high school rebounding record of 29 last year, continues to dominate.

“Wala na ako mahihiling [kay Colins] ‘eh, alam ko naman na trinatrabaho niya, nagiimprove siya. Pero you have to get this right coming into college. Kung saan ‘man siya maglalaro sa college, this is the time na you have to enhance yung mga kulang mo pa coming into college,” said NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro.

Alfanta contributed 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Jid Locsin tallied six points, eight assists, and eight rebounds in the win.

For Adamson, Esperanza stood out with 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Medina added 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist.

Penafiel shone in his debut, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, with two rebounds and one assist.

In UST’s opening-day loss, Bucsit led with 15 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Charles Esteban contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, and a block.

Wacky Ludovice added nine points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Racine Kane, in his UAAP debut, was limited to eight points on 3-of-15 shooting but contributed 10 rebounds, five steals, four blocks, and two assists.

The Scores:

First Game

FEU-D (75) – Cabonilas 25, Burgos 19, Salangsang 17, Pascual 8, Raneses 2, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 2, Godoy 0, Hall 0, Gemao 0, Maierhofer 0, Esperanza 0.

AdU (71) – Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Peñafiel 12, Perez 7, Umali 7, Matillano 4, De Jesus 4, Sajili 2, Abayon 2, Tumaneng 0, Artango 0.
Quarterscores: 17-10, 31-26, 43-46, 75-71.

Second Game

NUNS (71) – Akowe 21, Alfanta 15, Napa 8, Locsin 6, Natinga 5, Figueroa 4, Cartel 3, Palanca 3, Nepacena 2, Solomon 2, Matias 1, Usop 1.

UST (60) – Bucsit 15, Esteban 13, Ludovice 9, Kane 8, Catalan 8, Buenaflor 3, Cañete 2, Manding 2, Cinco 0, Vidanes 0, Acido 0, Solon 0.
Quarterscores: 23-8, 48-27, 60-48, 71-60.

FEU-Diliman show championship form in HS Football opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' Football

FEU-D 3 pts (+6)

UST 3 pts (+3)

DLSZ 3 pts (+1)

Ateneo 0 pts (-1)

SRG 0 pts (-3)

CSQC 0 pts (-6)

Matches on Saturday at the UP Football Stadium

2 p.m. - CSQC vs Ateneo

4:30 p.m. - SRG vs FEU-D

7 p.m. - DLSZ vs UST

FAR Eastern University-Diliman and University of Santo Tomas kicked off the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' Football tournament with dominant victories over guest schools Claret School of Quezon City and PAREF Southridge, respectively, on Saturday at the UP Football Stadium in Quezon City.

The Baby Tamaraws began their quest for a 13th consecutive UAAP championship with a commanding 6-0 win over the Red Roosters, marking a historic day for the league.

Meanwhile, James Sunog and River Solis led the Junior Golden Booters to a 5-2 victory over the Admirals as they began their redemption bid after last season's runners-up finish.

This was the first time that guest teams were allowed to participate in any UAAP sport.

FEU-D, one of the longest-standing teams in the UAAP, showcased its attacking prowess, scoring four goals from different Tamaraws to take a 4-0 lead at halftime.

"Medyo struggle rin talaga kasi every year maraming gruma-graduate, so maraming bago at maraming kailangang sumabay. I think right now this Season 87, prinepare naming lahat mula sa attacking, defending, at pati 'yung pace naming sa field. We're very happy, kami ni Coach Paolo (Bugas), na nakuha naming 'yung galaw namin. Yung winning mentality andoon, so masaya kami sa pinakita ng mga boys ngayon," said Baby Tamaraws head coach Jake Murillo.

Czam Acuesta opened the scoring with a goal just three minutes into the match.

A swift counterattack saw center-back James Torres and striker Arvin Alayon Jr. each score before the 20th minute, and Jerriemy Biton added another goal to give the Baby Tamaraws a comfortable 4-0 cushion at halftime.

Despite the efforts of Tacardon brothers Filbert and Filmar, who used their speed to challenge FEU-D's defenders, Torres and the rest of the backline turned defensive stops into offensive runs to secure decisive goals.

After a long spell of attacking plays in the second half, winger Joerby Anito opened the floodgates with a fifth goal for the Baby Tamaraws.

Goalkeeper Gianne Abara made a key stop against Filbert Tacardon to preserve the shutout, and an 80th-minute strike from Edgar Renopal sealed a statement win for the defending champions.

"Mas maraming games na ang UAAP juniors, and at the same time, parang nag-iinvite tayo sa community natin sa football. It is growing and it's getting more competitive. Nabigyan natin ng chance 'yung iba na magpakilala. Start pa lang ng season, so marami pang paghahandaan against the other teams," said Murillo, a former FEU standout.

After reaching the final for the first time last season, UST showed its intentions early in its match against Southridge.

"From last year Final, hanggang ngayon, 'yun na yung target namin is mag champion so nag-prepare talaga kami na mameet yun," said assistant coach David Basa.

Southridge goalkeeper Juan Paolo Tansingco initially stood strong, but eventually succumbed to the relentless pressure from UST.

Sunog broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a goal from a well-executed buildup, followed by Solis doubling the lead four minutes later.

The two then completed their braces, with Sunog scoring in the 40th minute and Solis adding another in the 43rd minute, extending the lead to 4-0 by halftime.

Joshua Balliner sealed the Junior Golden Booters' first win of the season with a stunning strike in the 67th minute, restoring their four-goal cushion.

Southridge managed to avoid a shutout just before the break with a free-kick goal from Francis Poticano, and Joziah Rance added another with a well-timed finish in the 71st minute, leaving the final score at 5-2.

"Nung sa practice game namin (friendlies), nagtutulungan naman kami parang ni-ready namin yung team namin na pwede kami mag-grow at mag-improve. Well, sa players, marami silang magagaling na players physically; malalakas yung ang sinabi namin sa players namin na 'yung contact (i-take advantage)," said Basa, a former Golden Booter.

Meanwhile, De La Salle-Zobel joined the day's victors with a 1-0 win over archrival Ateneo, thanks to a header from Brycen Padauan just four minutes into the second half.

"It was a good win. We played them a few weeks before the UAAP and we lost 2-0 to them because it was a friendly game. So, I guess we wanted (the win) more. You know, we wanted it more than anything because last season, our last game was against them and we lost 1-0. We lost one zero to them, so I think it's a sweet victory," said head coach Ayi Nii of his team's first victory of the year.

The Blue Eagles had several chances to score, but the Junior Green Booters' defense, anchored by second-year goalkeeper Jacob Salavante, held firm to secure the win after 90 minutes.