FEU-DIliman kickstarts UAAP U16 second round with nail-biter over La Salle-Zobel

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 89 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Standings
NUNS 7-0
FEU-D 6-2
UE 5-2
DLSZ 5-3
UST 3-4
UPIS 2-5
AdU 1-6
Ateneo 0-7

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena
8 a.m. – NUNS vs UE (16U)
10 a.m. – AdU vs UE (Women)
12 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Women)
2:30 p.m. – AdU vs UE (Men)
6 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men)

Far Eastern University-Diliman asserted its dominance over De La Salle Zobel, 82-76, to claim its third straight win in the UAAP Season 89 16-and-under boys' basketball tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With the victory, the Baby Tamaraws moved to solo second in the standings with a 6-2 record to open the second round, extending their winning streak to three games — the second-longest active streak in the tournament.

FEU-D had previously defeated DLSZ, 86-76, in the first round.

“Actually, very happy we’re in the number two spot right now. But we need to be better, and we need to increase our defensive stamina kasi mediyo nagco-collapse kami kapag nalalamangan kami,” said FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia.

“Sabi ko sa mga player ko, keep your composure. Masyado kasing mainit yung Rye Villaruz at Enzo Purugganan. Gradually, na-adjust namin ‘yung defensive scheme namin, pero ready naman kami doon,” he added.

Nicus Calma spearheaded the Baby Tamaraws' early surge, putting the Junior Archers in a 20-15 hole before DLSZ mounted a late second-quarter comeback.

With two minutes left in the first half, Enzo Purugganan took charge of a 12-2 run that erased a 10-point deficit and sent the Junior Archers into the break tied with the Baby Tamaraws.

Both teams continued to trade baskets in a tightly contested third quarter, with FEU-D holding a two-point lead in the closing seconds. Purugganan then drained a triple to swing the lead in La Salle's favor, 61-60, heading into the final frame.

FEU-D refused to back down, however, as Andres Cruz's layup with 1:46 remaining put the Baby Tamaraws back on top, 74-73.

The Baby Tams then closed the game with a decisive 10-0 run, holding the Junior Archers scoreless until Fonzie Mercado knocked down a triple with one second left as FEU-D sealed the 82-76 victory.

“Para sakin, pinractice naman namin ‘yun. Palagi naman sa isip ko. Lagi ko po yun ineensayo para sa laro, pagdating sa shooting, parang basic na lang,” said Calma, who shot 50 percent from the field in the win.

Calma led the Baby Tamaraws with 16 points, while Griffin Barlan posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Bernard Alsola added 11 points, including the dagger three-pointer that put the game away with 42 seconds remaining.

Cruz chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

FEU-Diliman will look to extend its winning streak when it faces Ateneo de Manila University next Thursday, October 15, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Junior Archers, who had previously won three straight games, dropped to fourth place with a 5-3 record.

Villaruz paced La Salle Zobel with a game-high 22 points and six rebounds, while Purugganan contributed 13 points and Mercado added 11.

The Junior Archers will seek their first win of the second round when they face the University of the Philippines Integrated School, also next Thursday.

The Scores:

FEU–D 82 - Calma 16, Barlan 13, Alsola 11, Cruz 10, Ira 8, Mampao 7, Samonte 6, Maghinay 5, Isip 3, Garcia 2, Madrigal 1.

DLSZ 76 - Villaruz 22, E. Purugganan 13, Mercado 11, Dizon 6, Quillo 6, Santiago 6, I. Purugganan 4, Enriquez 4, Paceno 2, Noel 2, Francisco 0.

Quarterscores: 20-15, 41-41, 60-61, 82-76.

Bullpups win streak now at 22 at JHS

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 89 Boys’ 16U Basketball Standings

NUNS 6-0
DLSZ 4-2
UE 4-2
FEU-D 4-2
UST 3-3
UPIS 2-4
AdU 1-5
Ateneo 0-6

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

8 a.m. - NU vs. AdU (Women)
10 a.m. - Ateneo vs. UP (Women)
12 p.m. - FEU vs. DLSU (Women)
3 p.m. - UST vs. UE (Men)
5:30 p.m. - FEU vs. DLSU (Men)

Defending champion National University Nazareth School overwhelmed Adamson University, 107-73, to keep its spotless record intact in the UAAP Season 89 16-and-under basketball tournament on Tuesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

It was the Bullpups’ sixth straight win of the season and their 22nd consecutive victory dating back to last year.

Andrie Lopez, a 5-foot-10 forward from Tagum City, set a new season-high with 30 points on 14-for-23 shooting from the field. The Tagum City native also came up with an equally impressive defensive feat, recording eight steals in the contest.

“Happy po ako kasi ngayon lang po ako nakapaglaro sa UAAP at nakuha ko ‘yung puntos na ganyang kalaki,” Lopez said.

Jessy Arellano also delivered a solid performance for the Bullpups with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Kobe Genido finished with 15 points and seven assists.

Aaron Dalanan and Martin Macoy rounded out NUNS’ double-digit scorers with 10 points apiece.

NUNS led by as many as 43 points, 102-59, in the fourth quarter.

The Bullpups scored 47 points off the Baby Falcons’ 36 turnovers, while their defense limited Adamson to 27 fewer field-goal attempts than NUNS.

After building a 21-point lead in the second quarter, the Bullpups remained relentless and poured in 30 points in the third period alone.

Earlier, De La Salle Zobel came away with a statement win over the University of the East, 68-54.

Fresh from an 86-57 home victory over the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons last Saturday, the Junior Archers continued their upward climb.

“We lost two in a row, so I think that game against UP on our home court was a good way to gain our momentum back and to work better as a team,” said Rye Villaruz.

DLSZ improved to 4-2, forcing a three-way tie with UE and the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws for second place in the standings.

Enzo Purugganan led La Salle with a game-high 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

“In the first half, I felt like we were still trying to get our rhythm. In the second half, I knew that I needed to go all out so we could get the win,” added Villaruz, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half.

The Junior Archers pulled away in the third quarter, taking a 13-point lead into the final period, 59-46, with Purugganan and Villaruz powering the surge.

UE was held to single-digit scoring in the third quarter as La Salle stretched its advantage.

The Junior Red Warriors went 0-for-20 from three-point range, becoming the first team this season to go scoreless from beyond the arc.

La Salle also held UE to its lowest scoring output of the season.

Austin Delos Santos was notably brought out of the game on a stretcher following an apparent back injury after colliding with an opponent while diving for the ball with 3:48 left in the first quarter.

Adamson slipped to seventh in the standings with a 1-5 record.

Jaden Roxas paced UE with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Kurt Mercado added 12 points in the loss.

Four Baby Falcons finished in double figures, led by Kobe Edrada with 19 points. Zach Caintic and Henri Subido chipped in 12 points each, while Carl Espiritu finished with 10.

The Scores:

Third Game:

DLSZ 77 - E. Purugganan 16, Villaruz 15, I. Purugganan 11, Enriquez 8, Mercado 6, Santiago 6, Dizon 2, Quillo 2, Paceno 2, Francisco 0, Noel 0, Tabu 0.

UE 69 - Roxas 24, K. Mercado 12, Dizon 7, Mallabo 6, Ancheta 5, Aguilar 5, J. Mercado 4, Pontipedra 2, Velayo 0, Sena 0, Delos Santos 0, Redulfa 0.

Quarterscores: 21-22, 42-36, 59-46, 68-54.

Fourth Game:

NUNS 107 - Lopez 30, Genido 15, Arellano 15, Dalanan 10, Macoy 10, Flores 7, Geron 6, Tundag 5, Enriquez 4, Cano 3, Pangan 2, Osorio 0, Garcia 0, Dizon 0.

AdU 73 - Edrada 19, Caintic 12, Subido 12, Espiritu 10, Delos Santos 4, Bulan 4, Cads 4, Maycong 3, Timtiman 3, Gayatin 2, De. Sepnio 0, Dw. Sepnio 0, Thompson 0.

Quarterscores: 25-15, 57-36, 87-49, 107-73.

NUNS secure third straight win in UAAP U16 Basketball

c/o UAAP Media

UAAP Season 89 Junior High School Basketball Standings

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

Games on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena
8 a.m. - NUNS vs UPIS (Boys’ 16U)
10 a.m. - DLSZ vs FEU-D (Boys’ 16U)
12 n.n. - AdU vs Ateneo (Boys’ 16U)
3 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Men)
5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (Men)

National University Nazareth School seized the solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 boys’ 16-and-under basketball tournament after edging erstwhile unbeaten De La Salle Zobel, 92-88, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bullpups improved to 3-0, moving ahead of the Junior Archers, who dropped to 2-1, while the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws remained at 2-0. NUNS also extended its winning streak to 19 games, dating back to its championship run in Season 88 last year.

Despite the victory, the defending champions’ performance left head coach Leo Pujante frustrated, as he stressed the importance of maintaining consistent effort throughout the game.

“Hindi kami pwede mag-relax,” said Pujante. “Hindi natatapos yung game sa first half, sa first two quarters dahil may third and fourth pa. Kaya kailangan mag-start kami ng strong sa third. Yun pa naman ang sinabi ko eh, diba, start strong third quarter. Yun pala kabila ang start strong.”

The Junior Archers, who opened the season with two straight wins following a winless campaign last year, faced their toughest challenge of the tournament against the defending champions.

The Bullpups came out firing, building a 25-point lead at 46-21 after Chandler Cano converted a layup with 4:28 remaining in the second quarter.

DLSZ responded emphatically in the third period. Fonzie Mercado, Andrei Francisco, Ice Purugganan, and David Dizon spearheaded the comeback, helping the Junior Archers pull even at 57-all midway through the quarter.

NUNS regained control in the fourth, with Jessey Arellano, Arnold Flores, Elijah Javier, Dwyane Enriquez, and Aaron Dalanan combining to give the Bullpups an 82-67 advantage with 5:12 left in the game.

The Junior Archers refused to go quietly, however, as Ice Purugganan, Mercado, Enzo Purugganan, Rye Villaruz, and James Enriquez trimmed the deficit to 84-82 with 2:27 remaining.

Flores, Andrie Lopez, and Arellano then delivered the decisive blows, joining forces in a 7-0 run that pushed NUNS ahead, 91-82, with 1:30 left and effectively sealed the victory.

Although the Bullpups remain unbeaten, Pujante said his team is determined to prove that it can defend its title even without last season’s standout Moussa Diakite.

“Siyempre iba last year, we had Moussa Diakite. This year we have to prove na hindi kami nag-champion dahil kay Moussa,” said Pujante.

The coach also lauded Arellano, a rookie from Antipolo City who led NUNS with 26 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.

“The way he plays — tatlong laro na — ’yan ang mga stats ni Moussa last year, di ba,” said Pujante.

Flores added 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Dalanan and Javier chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively, to join Arellano in double figures for NUNS.

Villaruz paced DLSZ with 18 points, followed by Ice Purugganan with 17 and Mercado with 13.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. NUNS will face UP Integrated School at 8 a.m., followed by DLSZ’s clash with FEU-D at 10 a.m. Adamson University and Ateneo de Manila University will close the triple-header at 12 noon.

The Scores:

NUNS 92 — Arellano 26, Flores Jr. 14, Dalanan 13, Javier 10, Mayor 9, Cano 6, Enriquez 5, Lopez 5, Macoy 4, Genido 0, Dizon 0.

DLSZ 88 - Villaruz 18, I. Purugganan 17, Mercado 13, Quillo 9, Dizon 8, Enriquez 6, E. Purugganan 6, Paceno 6, Francisco 5, Noel 0.

Quarterscores: 29-16, 48-37, 69-63, 92-88.

Uwan forces UAAP postponements Sunday

The UAAP announced on Saturday afternoon that it is postponing its matches scheduled to take place in Metro Manila on November 9.

It reads as follows:

In light of the inclement weather brought by Severe Tropical Storm 'Uwan', the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) announces that all scheduled basketball, collegiate men's football, and high school volleyball games on Sunday, November 9, 2025, are postponed.

The safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials, fans, and everyone involved is our top priority. We strongly advise everyone to take all necessary precautions, stay indoors if possible, and ensure the safety of your family and loved ones during this severe weather event.

The UAAP will release the rescheduled dates and times for the affected games as soon as they are finalized. We thank you for your understanding and patience, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on the court safely once conditions improve.

Please stay safe.

The basketball playdate at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum includes the much-anticipated rivalry between Ateneo and La Salle, as well as the neighborly matchup between UST and FEU.

Football was supposed to conclude its schedule for 2025 with a doubleheader at the football field inside the University of the Philippines, with UST and FEU seeking to solidify a run to the postseason, while La Salle also seeking to keep its hopes alive against an already qualified UP.

The Blue Eagle Gym would have been set to host a full schedule of high school volleyball, with a tasty duel between UST and NUNS on the girls side being the main feature.

This development comes a day after it announced tweaks to its schedule for both swimming and athletics, which are set to continue its slate of activities at New Clark City tomorrow.

Baby Falcons snap Tiger Cubs streak, Junior Warriors nip Junior Archers

c/o UAAP Media

UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament Standings
NUNS 8-0
FEU-D 6-2
AdU 6-3
UST 6-3
UE 5-4
Ateneo 2-6
UPIS 1-7
DLSZ 0-9

Games Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
7:30 a.m. – UPIS vs FEU-D (16U)
9:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs NUNS (16U)
11:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Women)
1:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs FEU (Men)
7 p.m. – UP vs FEU (Women)

Adamson University dispatched the University of Santo Tomas, 87-76, to earn a share of third place in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Baby Falcons and the Tiger Cubs are now tied at 6-3 in the standings.

Meanwhile, the University of the East avoided a potential third straight defeat after pulling off a thrilling 72-69 victory over winless De La Salle Zobel (0-9) in the opening game of the six-match slate.

The Junior Warriors improved to 5-4 for solo fifth place.

It was an impressive showing for Adamson, which snapped UST’s four-game winning streak.

Holding a slim 36-34 advantage at halftime, the Baby Falcons began to pull away in the third quarter as Vengcs Vengco, Edison Jordan, Keefy Iledan, Fran Flores, Seb Esma, and Majiq Padrejuan combined for a 63-49 cushion with less than a minute left in the period.

In the fourth, Adamson widened the gap, leading by as much as 77-58 off Flores’ back-to-back layups and Uno Del Monte’s three-pointer, effectively sealing the game with 6:37 remaining.

Redemption was the theme for the Baby Falcons, who avenged their heartbreaking 87-86 loss to UST in their first-round meeting last October 18.

“All throughout the week, after that game, we always had to instill in them — ‘one point, one point.’ We don’t want that again,” said Baby Falcons head coach Dante Tengco. “Even if we won by one point, it’s fine as long as we say that we’re not supposed to lose this time. The boys became men today and really answered the call, so thank you for that.”

Flores led Adamson with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Jordan added 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Esma also chipped in 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Iledan tallied a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

In the earlier game, the Junior Archers seemed poised for an upset after Isaac Purugganan and Jullian Pangan’s free throws gave DLSZ a 66-61 cushion with 2:41 left.

But the Junior Warriors responded in stunning fashion. Austin Delos Santos’ layup, James Mesa’s free throw, and Mark Perdigon’s clutch triple turned the tide, putting UE ahead 67-66 with 1:22 remaining.

DLSZ had a chance to reclaim the lead, but Enzo Purugganan missed a three-pointer and a layup following his steal off Perdigon — only for the latter to recover defensively and deny the easy basket.

Perdigon then buried another triple to give UE a 70-66 lead with 25.8 seconds left. Enzo Purugganan answered with his own three despite Goodluck Okebata’s tight defense, trimming the gap to 70-69 with 23 ticks to go.

In the ensuing play, Delos Santos calmly sank both free throws after being fouled, restoring a three-point cushion with 17 seconds left.

The Junior Archers’ hopes of forcing overtime faded when Ice Purugganan turned the ball over, sealing UE’s escape win.

Despite the victory, Junior Warriors head coach Matthew Sia expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their lapses in the third quarter when DLSZ led by as much as 55-45 off Enzo Purugganan’s back-to-back treys.

“To tell you the truth guys, I’m not happy with our win,” said Sia. “Siyempre, nung start of the fourth, I was telling the boys when we were down 10, gumawa kayo ng paraan. Nag-adjust kami sa defense. Thankfully, naman naka-stops kami. I’m glad we won, but I’m not happy with that win.”

Okebata led UE with a monster double-double of 26 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks. Delos Santos added 13 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

Perdigon, who missed all six of his three-point attempts prior to the fourth quarter, finished with 12 points — highlighted by his two clutch triples — along with four assists.

UE also dominated DLSZ in their first-round meeting last October 15, 89-66.

For the Junior Archers, Enzo Purugganan led the charge with 26 points, while Pangan added 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Ice Purugganan chipped in 12 points, five assists, and five rebounds, while Wayne Rivera finished with four points and 10 boards. La Salle fell to 0-9, with an average losing margin of 16.67 points.

All four teams will return to action at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Adamson faces FEU-Diliman on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by La Salle taking on National University-Nazareth School at 9:30 a.m.

On November 5, UE will battle Ateneo de Manila University at 7:30 a.m., while UST takes on the University of the Philippines Integrated School at 9:30 a.m.

The Scores:

First Game (16U)

UE (72) - Okebata 26, Delos Santos 13, Perdigon 12, Felizmenia 9, Mallabo 5, Mercado 3, Pontipedra 3, Mesa 1, Aguilar 0, Ancheta 0.

DLSZ (69) - E. Purugganan 26, Pangan 21, I. Purugganan 12, Mindanao 6, Rivera 4, Dizon 0, Quillo 0, Delos Reyes 0, Meloto 0, Asis 0.

Quarterscores: 18-16, 34-33, 45-55, 72-69.

Second Game (16U)

AdU (87) - Flores 19, E. Jordan 17, Esma 15, Iledan 10, Vengco 8, A. Jordan 7, Del Monte 5, Padrejuan 4, Abas 2, Maycong 0, Caintic 0.

UST (76) - Tabbuga 26, Cabanero 15, Castro 12, Anggot 9, Datu 7, Jubilado 5, Regala 2, Duenas 0, Villacarlos 0, Retaga 0, Guinto 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15, 36-34, 65-52, 87-76.

Carino return sparks FEU-Diliman comeback triumph

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament Standings
NUNS 7-0
UST 5-2
FEU-D 5-2
AdU 4-3
UE 4-3
Ateneo 2-5
UPIS 1-6
DLSZ 0-7

Prince Cariño, returning to action after missing the previous game, immediately made up for lost time, leading Far Eastern University-Diliman to a hard-fought 72–68 victory over the University of the East. The win allowed FEU-D to claim a share of second place at the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

After sitting out the Baby Tamaraws’ loss to the UST Tiger Cubs last Wednesday due to illness, Cariño joined forces with Prince Pineda in the clutch to help FEU-D overcome the Junior Warriors, finishing the first round tied for second place with UST—both teams holding identical 5–2 win-loss records.

“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil nakaka-recover na sila. Most of the players are sick and ngayon lang sila nakapagpractice kaya yung preparations namin for UE, sobrang iksi kasi hindi namin sila pwede pag-practice kasi under recovery pa. Kaya para sa akin, satisfied ako sa panalo namin ngayon,” Baby Tamaraws head coach Muriel Garcia said.

In a back-and-forth battle to open the payoff period, both teams stayed within striking distance. Mark Perdigon and Zion Aguilar then drained back-to-back triples to give UE a narrow 66–62 lead with 3:06 remaining.

Eager to regain control, FEU-D responded with a decisive 8–0 run—highlighted by a midrange jumper from Cariño and a three-pointer plus an and-one layup by Pineda—establishing a four-point, 70–66 lead with 2:05 left on the clock.

Despite committing a 24-second shot clock violation and a turnover by Okebata, the Junior Warriors stayed alive after their Fil-Nigerian forward converted free throws. However, a missed three-pointer by Aguilar, an errant pass from Perdigon, and ice-cold free throws from Cariño ultimately sealed the Baby Tamaraws’ comeback victory.

Cariño finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and one assist. Dwyne Enriquez also posted 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Pineda added 14 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Hisham Mampao contributed eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

For UE, Okebata tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals, while Perdigon registered 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one block. The Junior Warriors closed the first round at 4–3, sharing fourth place with Adamson University.

In the earlier game, the University of the Philippines Integrated School claimed its first-ever victory in the division with a thrilling 70–59 win over De La Salle Zobel.

The triumph ended a 20-game losing streak dating back to Season 87.

Winless through 14 games in Season 87 and struggling through a six-game slump to start Season 88, UPIS ended its drought in dominant fashion.

Second-year guard Kean Poquiz led the charge, exploding for 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting, along with nine rebounds, seven steals, and six assists—the second-highest single-game scoring performance in the tournament’s history since UST’s Jhon Canapi scored 38 points in an 82–65 win over Adamson on November 20, 2024, during Season 87.

Poquiz’s performance not only snapped the Fighting Maroons’ 20-game skid but also delivered head coach King Vergeire his second UAAP victory across the 19-under and 16-under divisions since taking over from former mentor Paolo Mendoza in Season 86.

His first win came in a comeback victory over UE on January 14, 2024, in the 19-under division.

“It’s very fulfilling with all the adversities and with everything that happened. I am just really thankful na we still pushed through as a team. All credit lang sa Lord and all credit sa coaching staff at lalo sa mga bata deserve nila ito,” Vergeire, son of decorated college coach Dong Vergeire, said.

UPIS finished the first round in seventh place with a 1–6 record.

Poquiz, a transferee from Marist School Marikina last year, sparked UPIS’ 11–0 run in the third quarter, converting a midrange jumper, a three-pointer, and an and-one reverse layup to give the Fighting Maroons a 46–36 lead with 3:41 remaining in the period.

DLSZ, however, mounted a 12–2 counterattack to tie the game at 48-all early in the fourth quarter.

Determined to end their 20-game skid, the Junior Fighting Maroons responded with an 18–5 run, punctuated by four triples from Poquiz, pushing DLSZ into a 66–53 deficit with 3:15 left on the clock.

Dominic Labao contributed a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while John Addatu added six points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

The Scores

First Game
UPIS (70) – Poquiz 36, Labao 11, Addatu 6, Manguerra 6, Bautista 4, Rosete 4, Lugatiman 3, Baldovino 0.
DLSZ (59) – E. Purugganan 20, Pangan 15, Mindanao 8, I. Purugganan 5, Delos Reyes 4, Rivera 3, Dizon 2, Asis 2, Quillo 0, Mercado 0, Meloto 0.
Quarterscores: 13-14, 31-30, 48-43, 70-59.

Second Game
FEU-D (72) - Enriquez 16, Cariño 16, Pineda 14, Mampao 8, Cañete 7, Mojica 4, Chavez 3, Barlan 2, Calma 2, Daa 0, Cruz 0, Desiderio 0.
UE (68) - Okebata 19, Aguilar 12, Perdigon 11, Mesa 9, Delos Santos 8, Mallabo 7, Roxas 2, Mercado 0, Felizmenia 0, Ancheta 0.
Quarterscores: 13-17, 31-40, 50-48, 72-68.

UST seeks co-leadership in UAAP Season 88 men's basketball

c/o UAAP

Standings W L 

Men's
NU 5 1
UST 4 1
UP 4 2
Ateneo 4 2
DLSU 2 3
AdU 2 4
FEU 1 4
UE 0 5

Women's
UST 4 0
NU 4 1
Ateneo 4 1
FEU 2 2
UP 2 3
AdU 2 3
DLSU 0 4
UE 0 4

JHS Boys'
NUNS 6-0
FEU-D 4-1
AdU 4-2
UE 3-2
UST 3-2
Ateneo 2-4
DLSZ 0-5
UPIS 0-6

Games Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena
8 a.m. – DLSZ vs UE (JHS Boys')
10 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Boys')
1 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (Women's)
3 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (Men's)
5 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Men's)
7 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Women's)

University of Santo Tomas looks to grab a share of first place as it faces a dangerous Far Eastern University side, while De La Salle University hopes to recover minus injured forward Mason Amos when the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament resumes today (Wednesday) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Coming off a character-defining performance that reaffirmed its status as a title contender, the Growling Tigers are gunning for a third straight win when they battle the Tamaraws at 5 p.m.

It took UST three overtimes to outlast Ateneo, 98-89, in the league’s much-heralded return to the iconic Blue Eagle Gym last Saturday, thanks to the efforts of Nigerian big man Collins Akowe, Gelo Crisostomo, and Forthsky Padrigao.

“It’s a character win for us. There’s a saying nga na that a great sailor will sail smooth seas, so the team will have to go through this to experience this journey and hopefully this makes us a better and stronger team with the experience we had against Ateneo,” said Growling Tigers assistant coach Juno Sauler.

A victory will lift UST into a tie with National University at the top of the standings with a 5-1 record.

It has been a tough second season so far for coach Sean Chambers, as FEU currently sits in seventh place with a 1-4 slate. Three of those losses were decided by four points or less, with the Tamaraws still struggling to close out games — the latest being a heartbreaking 66-69 loss to defending champion University of the Philippines last Sunday.

“We need to get over the so-called hill to finalize and finish these games off. So I spoke to all of them during practice, saying that we have to go earn the respect of the rest of the team in the league by winning against some of the upper echelon teams to let them know that we have arrived,” said Chambers.

“We’re playing great basketball, but we just gotta finish off these games and the deal. So, I mean, I’m happy with their effort, but I hate losing, and I just think that we don’t want moral victories. I know we’re playing good basketball. We just gotta get one more step over to beat these top teams,” the many-time PBA Best Import awardee added.

Meanwhile, the Green Archers hope to catch a break against the University of the East Red Warriors, who remain winless in five games and have dropped 11 straight dating back to last season’s second round. Tip-off is set at 3 p.m.

Enduring its worst start since coach Topex Robinson took over in 2023, La Salle is digging deep to stay within the top-four range.

“There’s no way for us but to, again, keep on persevering and fighting. We could have had all the reasons to just go down and die, but I guess that’s the least of our priorities right now. We have a lot of basketball to play, a lot of opportunities to bounce back. What’s important is we stick together and go through this harder this time, especially with injuries to our players but it is what it is. As long as we have life, we have a chance. We’re not gonna give up on this,” Robinson said.

Amos will be sidelined for at least six to eight weeks after sustaining an MCL tear in his right knee during La Salle’s 78-82 loss to National University last Sunday, dropping the Season 86 champions to a 2-3 record.

In the women’s division, league-leading UST seeks its fifth straight win against vastly improved FEU at 7 p.m.

Tigresses coach Haydee Ong remains cautious of the Lady Tamaraws, who hold a 2-2 record behind the efforts of Amyah Espanol and Shem Abatayo, while keeping her team focused on one game at a time.

“It’s a long season — we just had our fourth game and three more in the first round, so one game at a time lang kami. We’ll go against FEU on Wednesday, so that's what we are preparing for,” Ong said after UST rallied past Ateneo, 75-66, last Saturday.

FEU coach Raiza Palmera-Dy is also preparing her squad for a tough battle against the top-ranked Tigresses, powered by Kent Pastrana and Nigerian student-athlete Oma Onianwa.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we will face the No. 1 team. I hope that we are ready to face them, but I will prepare them mentally and physically kasi hindi yan magiging madali kasi they’re a more experienced team. Hopefully, lahat ng trinabaho namin offseason, lumabas next game,” said Palmera-Dy.

(“I told them that we’ll be facing the No. 1 team. I just hope we’re ready, but I’ll make sure to prepare them mentally and physically because it’s not going to be easy — they’re a much more experienced team. Hopefully, everything we worked on during the offseason shows in our next game.")

Earlier in the day, La Salle and UE, both still searching for their first win after four games, will clash at 1 p.m.

In the 16-and-under division, FEU-Diliman aims to solidify its hold on second place against UST at 10 a.m., while defending champion UE battles De La Salle-Zobel in the 8 a.m. curtain-raiser.

All games will air live on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.

NU set for tough test against defending champions

Standings   W  L
Men
NU               3    0
Ateneo        3    0
UST             2    1
DLSU           2    1
AdU             1    2
UP               1    2
FEU              0    3
UE                0    3

Women
UST             2    0
Ateneo        2    0
UP               2    0
NU               1    1
FEU              1    1
AdU             0    2
UE                0    2
DLSU           0    2

JHS Boys
AdU 3-0
NUNS 3-0
UST 2-1
UE 2-1
FEU 2-1
DLSZ 0-3
Ateneo 0-3
UPIS 0-3

Games Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena
7:30 a.m. –  UE vs UST (16U)
9:30 a.m. – UPIS vs NU (16U)
11:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (Women)
1:30 p.m. – UST vs UE (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs NU (Men)
7 p.m. – UP vs NU (Women)

AFTER hurdling its biggest test of the young UAAP Collegiate Men’s Basketball season, National University faces another tough challenge against defending champion University of the Philippines this Saturday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Bulldogs are enjoying their finest start in the Final Four era, with coach Jeff Napa pleased to see his players on the same page.

NU is currently tied with Ateneo at 3-0, the tournament’s two unlikely leaders after both squads finished at the bottom of the standings last season.

"Yung character kasi, hindi ko na para i-question ‘yon sa mga bata at players ko ‘eh. Especially (Omar John), he changed a lot. Thankful kami talaga na yung pagbabago niya, for the better — as a player and as a person. Nagbi-benefit talaga yung team. Maybe he’s matured enough to understand everything. His teammates really support him well. Siguro ‘yon yung maganda na nangyayari, they trust each other and no one will be left behind," said Napa.

("Their character is something I don’t question anymore, especially with my players. Omar John, in particular, has changed a lot. We’re really thankful for the positive changes he’s made, both as a player and as a person. It’s really benefiting the team. Maybe he’s matured enough to understand everything, and his teammates are supporting him well. I think what’s great is that they trust each other, and no one gets left behind.")

The Bulldogs hope to sustain their high level of play in the 4:30 p.m. duel with the Fighting Maroons.

Behind Gambian center Omar John and leading scorer Jake Figueroa, NU pricked University of Santo Tomas’ bubble on its home floor with a 76-69 win in a showdown of unbeaten teams Wednesday night.

UP finally got over the hump with a 92-75 win over University of the East last Sunday, ending a two-game skid.

For coach Goldwin Monteverde, the victory will serve as a morale booster for the Fighting Maroons as they brace for an inspired Bulldogs side.

"I guess winning this game in this way would make us realize that it’s very important to play together. It’s not just about talent, it’s about having a quick intuition on making decisions din," said Monteverde.

The Growling Tigers aim to get back on track against the Red Warriors in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser. Sporting a 2-1 record, UST is currently tied with De La Salle in third place, while UE, still searching for its first win under new coach Chris Gavino, is tied with Far Eastern University at 0-3.

In Collegiate Women’s play, UST and UP stake their unbeaten 2-0 records against a dangerous UE and titleholder NU, respectively.

Coming off an impressive 76-62 romp over the Lady Bulldogs, the Tigresses remain wary of the Lady Warriors, who have shown improvement under first-year mentor Ian Valdez, in the 11:30 a.m. contest.

"There’s so much more to improve sa team and day by day naman, kino-correct namin yung mga mali namin and the things that we have to improve para as we go on sa every game namin, we will see improvement until the end of the first round," said UST coach Haydee Ong.

("There’s still a lot we need to work on as a team, and day by day we’re correcting our mistakes and focusing on the areas we need to improve. As we go through each game, I’m confident we’ll see progress by the end of the first round.")

The Fighting Maroons are also aware that the Lady Bulldogs will be eager to vent their ire in the 7 p.m. clash.

"Just like every game namin, we tap ourselves on our shoulders. It was a win we were really dying for, but after that, we’re looking forward to the next game. NU is a big challenge definitely now dahil ganito yung pinakita namin. Hopefully, we can take some positives out of it and we’ll work on our lapses," said coach Paul Ramos after UP nipped UE, 84-75, in overtime.

("Like every game, we give ourselves some credit. It was a win we really needed, but now we’re already looking forward to the next one. NU is definitely going to be a big challenge given how we played. Hopefully, we can take some positives from this and work on the areas where we slipped up.")

In Junior High School Boys' action, unbeaten NU-Nazareth School guns for its fourth straight win against UP Integrated School at 9:30 a.m., following holders UE and UST, who take the floor at 7:30 a.m.

Games air on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.

Adamson staves off Ateneo comeback to maintain undefeated JHS record

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament Standings
AdU 3-0
UST 2-0
NU 2-0
UE 2-1
FEU 1-1
DLSZ 0-2
Ateneo 0-3
UPIS 0-3

Games Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
7:30 a.m. – UST vs NUNS (16U)
10 a.m. – DLSU vs FEU (16U)
12 p.m.  – DLSU vs FEU (Women)
2 p.m. – DLSU vs FEU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs NU (Men)
7 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women)

Edison Jordan and Fran Flores combined in the clutch as Adamson University held off Ateneo de Manila University’s late rally, securing an 80-75 victory and preserving its unbeaten record in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

To withstand the late-game heroics of Blue Eagles’ main gunner Sky Jazul, the Baby Falcons leaned on timely contributions from Jordan, Flores, and Vengcs Vengco in the final minutes, earning Adamson its third straight win and matching its total victories from last season’s three-win campaign.

“Regarding the character of the team, they have this comeback mentality. Sometimes, there just needs to be a wake-up call. I guess when Jazul was able to make 10 points in the first quarter and baskets sa dulo, Medyo nagwake-up doon mga bata and we were able to control Jazul,” Baby Falcons head coach Dante Tongco said.

Trailing 64-56 entering the final quarter, Ateneo opened the fourth with a crucial 9-4 run, highlighted by back-to-back layups from Jazul and JD Juangco, cutting the deficit to a single point at 68-67 with 4:48 left.

Adamson stayed composed down the stretch, as two triples from Jordan and an inside basket by Flores pushed the Baby Falcons back up to a nine-point lead, 76-67, with 3:28 remaining.

The Blue Eagles mounted a late push, with Jazul sparking a five-point run to trim the gap to 76-72, but consecutive layups from Vengco restored an 80-73 buffer with 1:20 remaining, sealing Adamson’s dream start to Season 88.

Flores continued to impress with 20 points, five assists, five steals, and three rebounds, while Vengco dominated inside, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

Seb Esma contributed 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 10 rebounds, three steals, and a block, while Jordan added 12 points, six assists, three rebounds, three steals, and one block.

For Ateneo, Jazul poured in 25 points, six assists, and two steals, while Juangco shone in his return with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds. The Blue Eagles remain winless through three games.

Earlier, University of the East dominated University of the Philippines Integrated School, running away with an 88-56 victory to claim sole possession of fourth place in the eight-team field.

Fresh off a narrow win over Ateneo last Wednesday, the Junior Warriors were unstoppable this time, sprinting to a 48-24 halftime lead and maintaining control throughout the contest.

Despite building a commanding lead in the first half, UE did not let up. Team captain Goodluck Okebata, James Mesa, and Juan Mallabo led the charge in the third quarter, pushing UP into a 74-39 hole entering the final period.

The Junior Warriors imposed their will on both ends, converting 36 of 75 field-goal attempts, grabbing 52 rebounds, and adding 12 steals and six blocks en route to a dominant 32-point win.

“Again, we emphasized the mismatches coming into this game. I think we have advantage sa big men namin, so we operated in the paint. I wanna point out our shooting din sa three-point territory, we have to improve that heading into the next games,” UE head coach Matthew Sia said.

The Junior Warriors scored 62 points in the paint but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-20 shots.

Okebata led the way with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, along with eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals, while Mesa added 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block.

Mark Perdigon contributed 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Mallabo chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds.

For UPIS, John Addatu paced the team with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Kean Poquiz was limited to 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting, adding two rebounds and one assist.

The Scores:

First Game

UE (88) - Okebata 18, Mesa 16, Perdigon 13, Mallabo 12, Ancheta 8, Delos Santos 6, Aguilar 6, Roxas 4, Mercado 2, Felizmenia 2, Pontipedra 1.

UPIS (56) - Addatu 12, Poquiz 11, Bautista 9, Lugatiman 8, Labao 7, Manguerra 4, Rosete 3, Okebata 2, Baldovino 0, Floirendo 0, Sebastian 0.

Quarterscores: 30-16, 48-24, 74-39, 88-56.

Second Game

AdU (80) - Flores 20, Vengco 14, Esma 14, Jordan 12, Iledan 8, Del Monte 5, Vargas 5, Padrejuan 2, Abas 0, Maycong 0.

Ateneo (75) - Jazul 25, Juangco 14, Dela Rosa 11, Castro 8, Bernarte 6, Ngo 5, David 3, Divinagracia 2, Hwang 1, Ylen 0, Llavore 0, Yoro 0.

Quarterscores: 23-12, 39-39, 64-56, 80-75.

Adamson takes early lead in UAAP U16 Basketball

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament
ADU 2-0
UST 1-0
FEU-D 1-0
NUNS 1-0
UE 1-1
DLSZ 0-1
Ateneo 0-2
UPIS 0-2

Games Saturday at the(Smart Araneta Coliseum
8 a.m. – NU vs FEU (16U)
10 a.m. – UST vs DLSU (16U)
12 noon – NU vs FEU (Women)
2 p.m. – NU vs FEU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (Men)
7 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (Women)

Goodluck Okebata rose to the occasion as defending champion University of the East outlasted Ateneo de Manila University, 87-77, to notch its first win in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena in Manila.

Determined to bounce back from an opening-day loss to the NU-Nazareth School Bullpups, Okebata — the lone holdover from the Junior Warriors’ Season 87 championship squad — showcased his ability to lead UE’s title defense.

The 6-foot-3 Fil-Nigerian, who hails from Iloilo, delivered a dominant double-double of 24 points and 18 rebounds, along with three blocks and two assists, to fend off the Blue Eagles and counter Sky Jazul’s 28-point outburst.

“Nag-adjust lang din kami coming into this game kasi na-overwhelm kami sa NUNS game. Sabi ko nga sa boys, yung character natin, malalaman yan based sa adjustment sa next game. Buti na lang the boys showed up, especially in the fourth quarter where we adjusted sa game plan ng Ateneo,” said Matthew Sia after securing his first victory as UE’s new head coach.

With the game tied at 73-all and under six minutes to play, UE turned up the pressure.

A Sean Felizmenia triple, back-to-back baskets from Okebata and Austin Delos Santos, and a corner jumper from Felizmenia sparked a decisive 9-0 run that gave the Junior Warriors an 82-73 cushion with 3:03 left.

Ateneo tried to stay alive with consecutive layups from Stef Bernarte and Francis Castro, but Mark Perdigon buried the dagger triple with 31 seconds remaining to seal UE’s bounce-back triumph.

Beyond its late-game surge, UE’s dominance inside proved to be the difference, outscoring Ateneo 54-38 in the paint.

Perdigon finished with 14 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting, along with three rebounds and a steal.

Felizmenia chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal, while James Mesa tallied 12 points and 10 boards.

Juan Mallabo also scored 12 points, and Delos Santos orchestrated the offense with nine points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.

Despite his 28-point, nine-rebound, three-steal, and two-assist effort, Jazul was limited to just five points on 2-of-9 shooting in the fourth quarter. Bernarte supported him with 14 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, Adamson University cruised to an 85-50 rout of University of the Philippines Integrated School to grab the early lead in the competition.

Coming off a dominant win against the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers last Saturday, the Baby Falcons quickly raced to a 44-20 halftime lead and never looked back, handing the Fighting Maroons their second straight defeat.

Adamson’s momentum carried into the final frame, punctuated by a Jacob Maycong midrange jumper that stretched the lead to a game-high 82-39 with 4:08 remaining.

“Nakita naman namin na we’ll still adopt a ‘one game at a time’ mentality. We don’t want to move forward agad. We still have to work on our defense, that I guess will be our main concern for the next games. Medyo nag-falter kami sa defense,” said new head coach Dante Tongco, whose squad is now one win away from matching last season’s three-victory total.

Cebuano guard Fran Flores led the Baby Falcons with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding five steals, four assists, three rebounds, and one block.

Keefy Iledan contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and a steal, while Uno del Monte had a perfect shooting day with 11 points on 5-of-5 from the field alongside four steals.

Edison Jordan added 10 points, six rebounds, and one steal.

For UP, John Addatu kept fighting with 16 points, six rebounds, six steals, and three assists, while Kean Poquiz, despite being limited to 11 points on 2-of-18 shooting with seven turnovers, still managed four rebounds and three steals.

The Scores:

First Game (16U)

UE (87) – Okebata 24, Perdigon 14, Felizmenia 13, Mesa 12, Mallabo 12, Delos Santos 9, Aguilar 2, Mercado 1, Ancheta 0, Pontipedra 0, Roxas 0.

Ateneo (77) – Jazul 28, Bernarte 14, Castro 8, Divinagracia 8, Dela Rosa 7, Ngo 5, Ylen 2, Hwang 2, David 2, G. Yoro 1, M. Yoro 0.

Quarterscores: 16-20, 42-45, 63-66, 87-77

Second Game (16U)

AdU (85) – Flores 17, Iledan 13, Del Monte 11, E. Jordan 10, A. Jordan 9, Padrejuan 6, Esma 4, Maycong 4, Vargas 3, Vengco 3, Abas 3, Adrade 2, Pleyto 0, Mangahas 0, Caintic 0.

UPIS (50) – Addatu 16, Poquiz 11, Manguerra 11, Labao 8, Lugatiman 4, Floriendo 0, Rosete 0, Okebata 0, Baldovino 0.

Quarterscores: 26-12, 44-20, 65-37, 85-50.

UE claims JHS basketball crown

c/o UAAP

AFTER 39 long years, a UAAP basketball championship is finally headed back to Recto.

University of the East seized the moment, dominating University of Santo Tomas, 78-47, in a winner-take-all Game 3 to clinch the first regular UAAP Junior High School Boys Basketball championship on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The last time UE celebrated a basketball championship was during UAAP Season 48 (1985) when its men’s basketball team, led by legends Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera, brought home the crown.

The Junior Warriors last tasted high school basketball glory in Season 44 (1981), under the guidance of coach Gabriel Reyala, with standout players like Codiñera, Modesto Hojilla, and the Longalong brothers.

“Finally, after how many years. It’s important for the school and the program. As I’ve said before, this would be enough na puntahan kami ng mga players. All of the teams namin sa basketball, puntahan na,” said Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella.

The Junior Warriors had been dominant all season-long, absorbing only two losses: an 81-66 defeat to the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws during the eliminations and a 98-84 setback in Game 1 of the Finals against UST.

However, UE turned the series around, solving the Tiger Cubs puzzle with a hard-fought 76-70 win in Game 2 to force the decider.

In Game 3, UE broke away as early as the second quarter.

After a 15-all deadlock in the opening period, Brian Orca and Ethan Oraa spearheaded a 19-point explosion for the Junior Warriors.

Meanwhile, Gab Delos Reyes anchored the defense, holding UST to just eight points in the quarter to secure a 34-23 halftime lead.

The momentum carried on, with UE unloading a telling 9-0 run to open the second half and led by as many as 33 points, 72-39, in what Estrella described as a “perfect game.”

“It’s a perfect game. The boys wanted it. They delivered. Sa gameplan namin, hindi sila bumitaw. In short, they wanted the championship and here it is,” said Estrella.

By the midway point of the third quarter, the UE community—led by school president Dr. Zosimo Battad—was already on its feet, dancing to the beat of the UE Drummers in celebration.

“This is so sweet. This is my first time in the UAAP. Credit to the UE community and, most especially, SGA, Boss Frank, Boss Jared, and Boss Jacob (Lao) for building this team,” said Estrella. “Three months of sacrifices. We went through adversities but we rose above it.”

Also present in the game was Derrick Pumaren, the coach who gave UE its first-ever boys' basketball title back in Season 35 (1972).

"We are thankful to Manong Derrick for motivating us with a speech before we headed to the court. Dun na-realize ng mga bata that they were playing for a higher purpose," said Estrella.

Delos Reyes, a lanky forward from San Beda-Alabang, was named Finals MVP after averaging 9.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the series.

He capped his stellar performance in Game 3 with six points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks.

“Siyempre po ngayong Game 3, hindi namin inisip na wala si (Andwele) Cabanero. Naglaro lang kami ng tama at sinunod lang yung coaches,” said Delos Reyes.

Oraa led UE in scoring with 13 points, while Enrico Bungar chipped in 11.

Jared Ferreros contributed nine points, with Jolo Pascual and Orca adding eight apiece. Orca also pulled down eight rebounds.

UST struggled in the absence of Andwele Cabanero, who was suspended for Game 3 after striking Neil Garcia twice during a loose ball scuffle in Game 2.

Without the Mythical Team member to stabilize the Tiger Cubs, UST shot a dismal 20.5 percent from the field, including a woeful 1-of-31 from beyond the arc.

Dustin Bathan led UST with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while fellow Mythical Team member Jhon Canapi managed just 11 points on 1-of-24 shooting.

Looking ahead, 10 of the 11 Junior Warriors will move up to the 19-and-under division next UAAP season, leaving Goodluck Okebata as the lone returning player for the Junior Warriors.

The work isn’t done for Estrella, who will assist Karl Santos in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, which tips off on January 19 at the same venue.

“I hope this inspires our 19-and-under team,” said Estrella.

The Scores:

UE (78) – Oraa 13, Bungar 11, Ferreros 9, Pascual 8, Orca 8, Garcia 7, Delos Reyes 6, Panganiban 6, Mesina 5, Dalosa 3, Okebata 2.

UST (47) – Bathan 16, Canapi 11, Jubilado 7, Javier 5, Villacarlos 4, Castro 2, Balague 2, Lim 0, Guerrero 0.

Quarterscores: 15-15, 34-23, 54-32, 78-47.

UE forces JHS Finals decider

c/o UAAP

Game on Wednesday (TBA)

TBA - UE vs UST (JHS Finals Game 3)

TOP-SEED University of the East capitalized on an early ejection of Mythical Five member Andwele Cabanero, securing a 76-70 victory over University of Santo Tomas to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Finals on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Cabanero was ejected at the 6:54 mark of the first quarter after striking Neil Garcia twice with a closed fist during a loose ball scuffle.

Despite the predicament the Tiger Cubs were in the Junior Warriors were still forced to battle against a resilient UST squad, which was fueled by the combined 62-point effort of Jhon Canapi, Miguel Jubilado, and Dustin Bathan.

As Game 3 approaches, the Junior Warriors are looking to end a 39-year UAAP basketball title drought, while the Tiger Cubs aim to capture their first UAAP high school basketball championship since Season 74 (2001).

Cabanero, who starred in the Junior Warriors' 98-84 Game 1 win with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists, will miss the decisive Game 3 due to his ejection in this game.

UE head coach Andrew Estrella expressed UE's determination, saying, "That’s the motivation: to bring UE another championship. As I’ve said, huwag kayo susuko ‘eh, and then we won, so bakit pa namin ibibigay ito? Ang dami na namin pinaghirapan, in and out the court, ito na ‘yon ‘eh. Bakit pa namin ibibigay ‘eh nandito na kami sa Game 3."

With 2:23 left in the game, UE had a slim two-point lead after a five-point spurt by Jolo Pascual and an inside basket from Gab Delos Reyes.

However, back-to-back layups by Jubilado and Canapi gave UST a 70-68 advantage with 1:44 remaining.

Canapi then committed three consecutive fouls, setting the stage for six straight free throws—four from Mav Mesina and two from Garcia—giving UE a 74-70 lead with 20.3 seconds remaining.

UST had a chance to close the gap, but Theodore Lim, who had taken most of Cabanero’s minutes, missed a crucial three-point attempt.

Mesina then hit two more free throws, sealing UE's hard-fought victory and keeping theirdream season alive.

"Ever since bata naman tayo, siguro kapag nagbbasketball, free throw is a common shot to make. I’ve made that shot more than a thousand times na, so what’s there to be scared about?" Mesina, a 14-year-old combo guard from Malabon, said.

Mesina bounced back from a tough Game 1 performance with 21 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, adding five assists, four rebounds, and one steal. He had been limited to just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting and seven turnovers in Game 1.

Garcia contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with one assist and one steal.

Delos Reyes also posted a double-double, tallying 11 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, while Pascual chipped in eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

Canapi, a Mythical Team member, paced the Tiger Cubs with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Jubilado also had 21 points with nine rebounds.

Bathan finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal as they look to erase this memory and complete the job on Wednesday.

The Scores:

UE (76) - Mesina 21, Garcia 13, Delos Reyes 11, Bungar 9, Pascual 8, Okebata 7, Ferreros 5, Oraa 2, Panganiban 0, Orca 0.

UST (70) - Canapi 21, Jubilado 21, Bathan 20, Castro 6, Lim 1, Balague 1, Villacarlos 0, Cabanero 0, Guinto 0.

Quarterscores: 21-19, 40-36, 56-53, 76-70.

Collegiate Champions to be determined in the UAAP

c/o UAAP

Games today at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

10 a.m. - JHS Boys' Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

11 a.m. – UST vs UE (JHS Finals)

1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)

5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)

DE LA SALLE guns for a second straight title, while University of the Philippines seeks to flip the script to reclaim the throne in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Finals before an expected jampacked crowd tonight (Sunday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers-Fighting Maroons championship goes for a decider for a second year in a row, as both teams will leave everything on the floor in the 5:30 p.m. contest to close out the year on a high.

Last year, the rubber match drew 25,192 fans -- a Big Dome record for basketball.

After dropping a 65-73 decision in the series opener, De La Salle's title-retention bid barely got a lifeline following a 76-75 Game 2 victory last Saturday.

Making its fourth consecutive Game 3 appearance, UP hopes to redeem itself from its two Finals defeats and secure the crown it last won in Season 84 (May 2022) ending a 36-year championship appearance.

The Green Archers, the fifth most successful team in the league, are eyeing their 11th title overall and the first back-to-back title run since completing a four-peat from Seasons 61 to 64 (1998 to 2001).

A title contender since Season 81 (2018) after decades of being perennial also-rans, the Fighting Maroons will shoot for a fourth championship.

For coach Topex Robinson, it's all about relishing the moment and not about thinking about De La Salle's future after the Finals.

"You know, we're just going to enjoy it. The crowd will be crazy, but that's what we're here for. You know, the reason why you play the Finals is for this kind of moment. You know, you prepare for those moments and nobody could take that away from you. So we just keep on enjoying it. We're just going to be approaching it the way we used to approach it," said Robinson.

"You know, this is the second time we're going to play in a Game 3 Finals, and at this point, we don't have to worry about it yet, but it's going to be an exciting ballgame. You know, whatever the result, it's, you know, it's all about the UAAP, how the branding was, you know, that's going to be good for, I guess, college basketball and Philippine basketball as well. So it's just going to be an exciting Sunday for everybody," he added.

The Green Archers will play Game 3 for a record 10th time. De La Salle is 5-4 all-time in winner-take-all games.

As UP stares in another do-or-die situation, coach Goldwin Monteverde simply wanted his troops to just focus and value every possession to get back on top.

"I guess, yung reality: Life goes on. Ganoon naman talaga ang buhay kung minsan it will go your way, it would not. Ang importante kunng ano ang ginawa mo to achieve ang gusto mong gawin. But then if you fall short siyempre… I think yung basketball is the perfect ano naman for them to be stronger, for them to learn. And definitely with this loss matututo kaming lahat," said Monteverde said.

"We’ll come back stronger Sunday. Basketball is basketball, di ba? Minsan mananalo. Minsan matatalo. Ang importante yung bangon. Alam namin na hindi pa naman tapos ang series. Alam namin na you know, we just have to keep our heads up," he added.

For a second straight women's Finals, University of Santo Tomas and National University face off in a no-tomorrow match at 1 p.m.

The Tigresses hope to reprise last year's epic championship comeback, while the Lady Bulldogs hope to get the job done after their bid to complete a perfect 16-0 season was foiled in last Wednesday's 68-78 defeat.

"Last year kasi we won the first game, then lost the second. I think, walang advantage or disadvantage na samin sa NU. We will just play harder para makuha namin yung Game 3. It's all in our mindset na we'll do our best para makuha namin ulit yung do-or-die game on Sunday," said UST coach Haydee Ong.

"Regardless sa Game 3, sabi ko nga sa mga bata, sobrang proud ako sa kanila, even in the first game kahit talo kami. Malungkot lang kami though walang regrets talaga. Even we're undersized, undermanned, no foreign student-athlete, pinakita ng mga bata na kaya namin," she added.

The Tigresses are gunning for a 13th championship and are eyeing to win consecutive titles since a four-peat from Seasons 50 to 53 (1987 to 1990).

The Lady Bulldogs seek to become the third-winningest program in the league by annexing their eighth crown overall.

UST eyes to bag the junior high school title and sweep top-ranked University of the East in Game 2 of the Finals at 11 a.m.

The Tiger Cubs seek to not only claim the first-ever regular UAAP JHS title, but to also put an end to a 23-year futility in UAAP high school basketball championships, which began in 2001 when they were led by Jun Cortez.

"Malaking bagay ito especially sa grupo namin, pati sa akin. Dahil nung 2001, Team B player pa ako ng UST, ‘yon yung time na nagchampion yung juniors. Ngayon, mas gusto ko makuha para naman matapos yung ilang years na hindi nagcchampion. Sana makuha na namin next game, magpprepare kami, papagalitan ko ulit sila, dapat huwag kami maging complacent. Viewing, lahat," UST head coach Noli Mejos said.

All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports (Ch. 6) and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (Ch. 263 on Cignal TV).

UP, NU seek to conclude collegiate basketball season

c/o UAAP

Games today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

10 a.m. – UE vs UST (JHS Finals Game 1)

1 p.m. - Women's Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

1:30 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women Finals Game 2)

5 p.m. - Men's Basketball Individual Awarding Ceremony

5:30 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men Finals Game 2)

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines hopes to complete what it failed to do in the two previous UAAP men's basketball Finals, closing out the series and winning it all.

Coach Goldwin Monteverde knows that the Fighting Maroons have moved on with the previous episodes of heartaches as they endured.

After winning the Season 84 (2022) championship that ended a 36-year drought, UP lost the title to Ateneo in a rematch six months later and bowed to De La Salle last year, as it failed to sustain its series-opening victories.

"We never naman dwell on the past no? So right now, as I said, part of the process of winning a championship is you know, winning Game 1. So we got Game 1 right now so we’re gonna prepare for Game 2," Monteverde said.

"So we’re gonna do our best, lahat ng makakaya namin to get it, and when that game day comes, whatever comes our way, we’re gonna face the challenge there," he added.

The Fighting Maroons are bracing for a big Green Archers fightback and whatever in-game adjustments the defending champions will throw in Game 2 at 5:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Behind one-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown and graduating guard JD Cagulangan, UP used a strong third quarter and held De La Salle's reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao to a single point in the second half to pull off a 73-65 victory last Sunday.

It was the Fighting Maroons' fourth consecutive Game 1 Finals win.

Coach Topex Robinson hopes that the Green Archers would rediscover their system that installed the Taft-based squad as the No. 1 team in the eliminations.

"At this point, it's just a matter of us gaining a learning from this experience. The only thing that I told the team, there's a reason why this is a series you don't win a championship by winning one game, you need two games," Robinson said.

"So we still have a chance we’ve been in this situation before, we just have to keep on being positive and try to learn from this experience. Again that's a tough team we played, we just have to slug it out in the end," he added.

The Fighting Maroons are 0-4 all-time in Game 2s in the Final Four era.

UP hopes to become the first team since the 16-0 Ateneo squad in Season 82 (2019) to register a two-game Finals sweep.

A victory by the Green Archers will send the series to a Game 3 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, National University hopes to complete a perfect 16-0 season and reclaim the women's throne against holders University of Santo Tomas at 1 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs barely protected their unbeaten record, rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the Tigresses, 72-71.

As NU guns for its eighth title in nine seasons, coach Aris Dimaunahan is determined to accomplish its redemption tour.

"Talk about mindset, again our mantra since Day 1 is to and was to improve on the daily. We always want to get better than the day before, and that will still be our mantra, that will still be our mindset to get better from the next days before our next game so that we could be more ready come Game 2 and hopefully, we will play a lot better in Game 2 so that we could be nearing dun sa gusto naming destination this year," Dimaunahan said.

Coach Haydee Ong remains upbeat that UST will fight and live another day as her troops put up a gallant stand in the opener.

"Nothing to be ashamed of. The girls did very well and I'm so proud of them. Hopefully, manalo kami. Yung mga miscues namin sa defense namin, yun yung mga tatargetin namin for two more days. Kung ano yung mga kailangan namin gawin. And we'll be back stronger," Ong said.

Expect an intense showdown between the Lady Bulldogs' Camille Clarin and the Tigresses' Kent Pastrana, who battled tooth and nail this past Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

In the junior high school division, University of the East and UST will clash in the division’s Finals opener to open the three-game championship slate at 11 a.m.

The well-rested Junior Warriors gained an early passage to the Finals after dethroning inaugural champions NUNS Bullpups, while the Tiger Cubs had to defeat Season 86 silver medalists FEU-D Baby Tamaraws twice to clinch the last Finals ticket.

For head coach Andrew Estrella, they are not only focused on their division’s glory, as UE looks to end a 39-year UAAP basketball title drought across all divisions.

“Right now, we are just thinking about the present. Siyempre, nandiyan yung other stuff na matagal na walang basketball championship and UE. That’s our motivation. We are also motivated to win a championship for Boss Frank, Boss Jacob and Boss Jared (Lao), especially, alam natin yung nangyari sa Benilde sa NCAA,” Estrella said.

UST head coach Noli Mejos, on the other hand, believes that it will take more than the Tiger Cubs star trio of Jhon Canapi, Dustin Bathan, and Andwele Cabanero to finally take down UE, citing the importance of team chemistry and doubled hard work in training.

While the Tiger Cubs lost both elimination matches to the Junior Warriors, UST came close to taking down UE with a narrow 78-80 defeat in their second-round encounter last October 30.

“Dadagdagan pa namin yung effort namin [against UE], especially on defense. Balik sa practice, viewing na naman. Kung nagawa namin dati na matalo sa kanila by two points, kulang yung effort namin at players noon, ngayon dadagdagan namin para manalo kami,” Mejos said.

All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports (Ch. 6) and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (Ch. 263 on Cignal TV).

UST secures JHS finals berth

c/o UAAP

Games Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

10 a.m. – UE vs UST (JHS Finals Game 1)

1 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women Finals Game 2)

5:30 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men Finals Game 2)

THIRD-RANKED University of Santo Tomas completed its dismantling of second-seeded Far Eastern University-Diliman, carving out a hard-fought 67-61 victory to secure the final ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Finals on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With the win, the Tiger Cubs advance to face a dominant University of the East Junior Warriors squad in a best-of-three championship series starting Wednesday, December 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

UE had earlier secured its spot in the finals after dethroning inaugural champion National University Nazareth School with a commanding 85-64 win, giving the Junior Warriors a week of preparation for the championship round.

UST, meanwhile, had to dig deep to overcome a resilient FEU-D squad twice, beginning with an 84-75 win last Wednesday.

The Tiger Cubs dropped both elimination-round games to the Junior Warriors but showed they are capable of challenging the top-seeded UE, narrowly losing 78-80 in their second-round meeting on October 30.

“Dadagdagan pa namin yung effort namin [against UE], especially on defense. Balik sa practice, viewing na naman. Kung nagawa namin dati na matalo sa kanila by two points, kulang yung effort namin at players noon, ngayon dadagdagan namin para manalo kami,” Tiger Cubs head coach Noli Mejos said.

UST held a 59-53 cushion with 6:00 left in the game, but the Baby Tamaraws mounted a furious comeback.

CP Miranda’s four-point spurt and an inside bucket from Mark Dulin tied the game at 59-all with 1:53 remaining.

However, Gab Castro emerged as the unsung hero for the Tiger Cubs.

The 15-year-old center from Victory Christian International School delivered three clutch inside baskets, including an and-one layup with 23.4 seconds left, effectively sealing the game for UST with a comfortable 66-61 lead.

In all three plays, Castro was assisted by either Andwele Cabanero or Jhon Canapi.

Anton Lopez had an opportunity to close the gap for FEU-D late in the game, but Canapi swatted away his three-point attempt.

“Naging prepared lang din talaga kami, nagbunga rin yung sacrifices, may halo na ring swerte. Halos lahat din, lucky shots ‘eh. Yung baskets ni Castro, malaking bagay. Nagsimula ‘yan nung sacrifices ng mga bata sa practice, talagang sakripisyo all out,” Mejos continued.

For the second straight game, Mejos shortened his rotation to just seven players.

In the previous game, he utilized eight players, though eighth man Roi Balague played only two minutes and 35 seconds.

Cabanero led the Tiger Cubs with another stellar all-around performance, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Dustin Bathan matched his scoring with 15 points while adding six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Miguel Jubilado contributed 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Castro shone with 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block off the bench.

Despite struggling with his shooting, finishing with just nine points on 2-of-14 from the field, Canapi, the runner-up in the MVP race, made his presence felt with six rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks.

It was a heartbreaking finish for FEU-D, runners-up in the inaugural tournament, who entered the semifinals as the second seed with a 12-2 record.

The Baby Tamaraws were also the only team to defeat the Junior Warriors this season, securing an 81-66 victory in the second round last November 24.

Lakay Pasinos carried the load for the Baby Tamaraws with 17 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. Lopez chipped in 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one block.

Mark Dulin also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists, three blocks, and one steal, while Prince Carino added 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in the losing effort.

The Scores:

UST (67) - Cabanero 15, Bathan 15, Jubilado 13, Castro 11, Canapi 9, Villacarlos, Balague 2.

FEU-D (61) - Pasinos 17, Lopez 11, Dulin 11, Carino 10, Miranda 6, Pineda 4, Santos 2, Lassiter 0, Diaz 0.

Quarterscores: 21-16, 35-32, 52-48, 67-61.

UAAP Collegiate Finals set for start

c/o UAAP

Games Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum)

11 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Final Four)

1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)

5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)

DE LA SALLE will finally test the mettle of a full-strength University of the Philippines when Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball championship reels off Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The back-to-back title-seeking Green Archers swept their elimination round head-to-head against the Fighting Maroons, who aim to make it up from their two previous Finals losses after ending a 36-year title drought in UAAP Season 84 (May 2022).

But UP missed Quentin Millora-Brown in the second round, who rejoined his family in the United States with the passing of his grandfather Angel last month and was without JD Cagulangan in the first round due to injury.

Coach Topex Robinson is bracing for what the Fighting Maroons will throw at them in the Finals opener at 5:30 p.m.

"Again, what’s obvious during those first two meetings was, you know, UP didn’t have a complete lineup. I guess, that’s one thing we haven’t seen," Robinson said.

The Fighting Maroons have proved their worth in the preseason by defeating the Green Archers and are capable of doing so in the UAAP.

"Going back to our FilOil meetings, they beat us twice. That’s one thing that we have to remember. If they’re going to be a complete team out there, they’re going to be… They came here as the No. 1 team. We’re just slowly catching up at the second spot," Robinson said.

"Again, in this Finals, it’s about how we’re gonna be prepared. We know UP is always gonna be all-out and they like to be the best that they could be. And this is just gonna make us better.

"It’s gonna challenge us and sabi nga namin we don’t really put so much on what the other team will do but we’re just gonna focus ourselves. And that’s what’s important for us," he added.

Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips are determined to elevate their game several notches higher, while Joshua David, who vastly improved his performance this season, will be such a huge help especially when the going gets tough.

Coach Goldwin Monteverde is not dwelling on the Fighting Maroons' heartbreaks in the past two seasons and is now focusing on the present.

"Sa amin naman, from the last season, yung nangyari sa last season. We took that to heart sa first practice pa lang. We as a team, ‘yung goal namin is to take it one game at a time. Ngayon, nandito na kami. Yan ang maganda sa Finals, mag-start kami ng 0-0. It’s a best-of-three series. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing our best," Monteverde said.

One-and-done Millora-Brown from The Citadel seeks to make up for missing the second round duel by imposing his 6-foot-8 body at will in the middle, while Cagulangan and Harold Alarcon will provide the needed offense during crunch time.

De La Salle is gunning for an 11th title, eyeing to move closer to fourth-running Ateneo's 12, while UP hopes to dangle its fourth championship overall.

In the women's division, unbeaten National University and holders University of Santo Tomas duke it out in the Finals opener at 1 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs gained an outright passage to the best-of-three championship series after going 14-0 in the eliminations against the Tigresses, who hurdle two do-or-die matches in the step-ladder stage to arrange a rematch.

NU coach Aris Dimaunahan has tried to keep his troops sharp during the long break going to Game 1.

"I think our commitment to getting a chance to bounce back this year, I think that's an added motivation for us to really stay locked in and really work on our game in preparation for the championship na napuntahan namin ngayon," Dimaunahan said.

Angel Surada and Camille Clarin have been the glue that stuck the Lady Bulldogs together, and the seven-time champions boast of foreign student-athlete Jainaba Konateh who can dominate the paint.

"Again, we have to work harder, together. Sa NU, dehado kami sa height so we have to work harder talaga sa loob," said UST coach Haydee Ong.

Do-it-all Kent Pastrana will be the Tigresses' heart and soul as they shoot for a second straight title and 13th overall.

In the junior high school division, second-seeded Far Eastern University-Diliman and University of Santo Tomas clash for the last finals spot in the division.

University of the East is awaiting the winner of the battle between FEU-D and UST after dethroning reigning champion National University Nazareth School, 85-64, last Wednesday.

The Baby Tamaraws had a chance to enter the championship round, but the Tiger Cubs disarmed them of their twice-to-beat advantage, 84-75, to force a rubber match for a spot in the finals.

"Adjust pa rin kami. Balik sa training, balik sa viewing para makapagprepare lahat. Same as nung prinepare namin nung first game, adjustment doon sa game ng FEU kasi magaadjust din sila. Magaadjust din kami para makapasok ng finals," UST head coach Noli Mejos said.

The Tiger Cubs will shoot for their first-ever finals appearance in the division, while the Baby Tamaraws look to return to the finals after a runner-up finish in the inaugural season early this year.

All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel on Cignal TV.

UE advances to JHS Basketball Final, awaits winner of FEU-D, UST playoff

c/o UAAP

Games on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum

10 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Final Four)

1 p.m. – NU vs UST/ADU (Women Finals)

5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)

UNIVERSITY of the East dethroned inaugural division champion National University Nazareth School, 85-64, to punch its ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

UE's championship opponent remains hanging in the balance, as third-ranked University of Santo Tomas lived to fight another day, disarming Far Eastern University-Diliman of its twice-to-beat advantage, 84-75, to keep its championship aspirations alive.

The Junior Warriors will enter the championship round with fiery momentum as UE won 14 of its last 15 outings. Their lone loss of the season came at the hands of the Baby Tamaraws with an 81-66 beating last November 24.

After bowing out in last year’s Final Four to FEU-D in an overtime thriller, UE finally booked its ticket to the division’s championship round.

“Our game plan was executed by the boys. Wala akong hihilingin pa. They stuck with the game plan from the first quarter, then second quarter kami lumamang talaga. Yung consistency like before I said nung halftime, ‘yon ang hanap ko ‘eh, yung consistency from first to fourth, especially heading into the finals,” Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella.

After two free throws by Chester Tulabut trimmed NUNS’ deficit to 34-25, Mav Mesina uncorked 13 points to power UE’s 20-11 second quarter surge, gaining a commanding 54-36 lead at the half.

Back-to-back triples by Jolo Pascual and Mesina sent the Bullpups down a 21-point hole with 7:48 left, further solidifying the Junior Warriors’ finals ticket and their dominance over NUNS.

UE defeated NUNS in both elimination round matches with an average winning margin of 19 points.

Mesina led the Junior Warriors’ charge with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and three steals, while Pascual contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and one steal.

Jared Ferreros chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Neil Garcia and Gab Delos Reyes scored 11 points each to complete UE’s five double-digit scorers.

The Tiger Cubs did not only disarm the Baby Tamaraws of their twice-to-beat incentive, but UST also put an end to FEU-D’s six-game winning streak. Coincidentally, it was the Tiger Cubs who last defeated FEU-D with a come-from-behind 76-75 win in their second round opener last October 16.

UST and FEU-D will clash for the last finals ticket on Sunday, 10 a.m., at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

“Nakita ko nga na hindi sila nagstruggle doon sa paghabol ng FEU, naging composed sila unlike sa eliminations pag nahahabol kami. Siguro dahil preparado rin lahat, nakaadjust lahat at nagkakumpyansa rin. Pumapasok yung tira namin nung last minutes, binigay na ni Lord sa amin,” Tiger Cubs head coach Noli Mejos said.

Trailing by 10 points to open the payoff period, 57-67, Anton Lopez poured in eight points in the Baby Tamaraws’ 14-4 run to tie the match at 71-all with 5:15 remaining.

However, UST waxed hot at the right time with four consecutive triples from Miguel Jubilado, Jhon Canapi, and Dustin Bathan to keep FEU-D at bay, gaining an 84-73 cushion with 1:32 left to force a do-or-die for the last finals ticket in the division.

Canapi ended the day with 26 points, four steals, three rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Andwele Cabanero flirted with a triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and one steal.

Bathan contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Gab Castro enjoyed his best game of the season with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds, and two assists.

Despite shooting 8-of-21 from the field, Lopez still contributed 23 points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Prince Carino had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Lakay Pasinos also tallied a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds to go along with four blocks.  

Mac Tadeo paced NUNS in the losing effort with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block, while Chester Tulabut was limited to 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting but still contributed 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

The Scores:

First Game:

UE (85) - Mesina 19, Pascual 12, Ferreros 11, Garcia 11, Delos Reyes 11, Oraa 6, Panganiban 5, Bungar 4, Orca 4, Okebata 2, Dalosa 0.

NUNS (64) - Tadeo 17, Tulabut 11, N. Pena 7, Quinto 7, Sabareza 6, Y. Pena 6, Khobuntin 5, Vitug 3, Reroma 2, Urea 0, Toring 0, Gutierrez 0, Maranan 0.

Quarterscores: 24-17, 54-36, 67-50, 85-64.

Second Game:

UST (84) - Canapi 26, Cabanero 15, Bathan 15, Castro 14, Jubilado 11, Balague 2, Guerrero 1, Villacarlos  0.

FEU-D (75) - Lopez 23, Carino 13, Pasinos 10, Santos 9, Miranda 5, Enriquez 5, Dulin 3, Pingris 2, Lassiter 2, Diaz 2, Victoria 0, Pineda 0, Barlan 0.

Quarterscores: 19-23, 41-38, 67-57, 84-75.