Manila Hustle set for third season

A few of the Manila Hustle 3x3 participants with Peachy Medina, Jude Turcuato, and Erika Dy

ZOOS Tokyo looks to attempt to defend their title when the third edition of the Manila Hustle 3x3 this weekend.

The third edition of the competition co-presented by Uratex, SMART, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas sees fifteen other teams try to topple the Japanese quartet at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

However, this edition of ZOOS will be quite different, with only Ama Degbeon returning. Team owner and incumbent MVP Aoi Katsura is sidelined this time around, but aside from the 55th-ranked Ama, the 219th-ranked Maya Tahira is set to participate, alongside Miran Kikuchi and Fatoumanana Nishi.

They also have slotted into Pool D, where they will face off in the prelims against Gilas Women 3x3, Panthers 3x3, and Harimau Malaysia.

Gilas Women are looking to kickstart their year off the right note with the Ateneo duo of Jhazmin Joson, Hazelle Yam joining forces with two of the brightest from National University in Mikka Cacho and Camille Clarin.

Spanish basketball sensation Ari Geli leads the Barcelona-based Panthers, which will also have the 22nd-ranked Kacie Bosch in her corner.

Seeking to bounce back after losing in the finals is Titans, who are slotted into Pool C with Uratex Tibay, Tokyo BB Japan, and Royals Basketball Australia.

Titans managed to make it that far in spite of losing Trina Guytingco due to injury in their first matchup. She's back again this time, alongside Bo Supavadee and Lina Nakazawa. Replacing Jhaz for this quartet is Stef Berberabe.

In Group A, Gilas Women U23 leads the pack, with inaugural MVP Kacey dela Rosa teaming up with fellow UAAP standouts Cielo Pagdulagan, Tin Cayabyab, and Elaine Etang. Serving as challengers to the youngsters are an Army Altama side led by Gilas Women shooter Janine Pontejos, Korean side Dinoman Hansol, and Japanese squad XD.

Rounding out the field is Pool B, where Uratex Dream leads the charge. Gilas Women stalwart Afril Bernardino and the top-ranked Filipina in the 3x3 scene Kaye Pingol take charge. Serving as their foil are local side New Zealand Creamery, Jumpshot Singapore, and Thai quartet Shoot It Dragons.

Format follows standard guidelines set by FIBA 3x3, with the top team of each pool advancing to the semifinals, with the second and third-place teams having to face off to earn their way into the final eight in this two-day competition.

The champion takes home US $4,000 and an invitation to participate in the WKBL 3x3 tournament later this year. The runner-up bags US $2,500, while the third placer nets US $1,500.

Complementing the basketball action for this two-day event is a performance from the StreetQueens on Saturday and a Slam Dunk contest between David Carlos, Aldous Torculas, and Ashon Andrews, with DJ Bigboy Cheng, Alyssa Valdez, and Jared Dillinger serving as judges.

No action will be missed with the festivities being streamed not only on the tournament's page on Facebook, but also on SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas.

James, Lakers remain top-selling NBA merch in the Philippines

c/o NBA via Getty Images

The Philippines remains a Laker town, as the inaugural In-Season Tournament (now known as the Emirates NBA Cup) champions are the top selling team for merchandise, with LeBron James as the most popular jersey purchase.

Findings are based from the sales made during the first half of this regular season at the two physical NBA Stores at SM Megamall and the SM Mall of Asia, as well as online purchases made at the nbastore.com.ph, both entities of which are being operated by TITAN.

The Lake Show beat out the Chicago Bulls for the nod, with the top five rounded out by the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, and the Dallas Mavericks.

Phoenix makes its local debut on the Most Popular Team Merchandise list by ranking fourth overall.

James beat out Stephen Curry and now-teammate Luka Doncic for the nod. Doncic, who was just traded by Dallas for Anthony Davis in a stunning three-team deal, finished third on the strength of sales made when he was still playing for the Mavericks.

Completing the top five are Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler, with the rest of the top ten being LaMelo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Ja Morant.

LaMelo and Shai make their local debuts in the Most Popular Jersey list with their sixth and eighth spot in the rankings.

This is the first time since 2020-21 season that a Laker and the Lakers are the most popular item on both categories.

Fans in the Philippines will be able to watch five of the ten on that list next weekend, when the NBA is set to hold its All-Star Weekend at the Bay, thanks to its broadcast partner Cignal.

Cignal is set to show the tentpole events on multiple channels (free-to-air channels One Sports and RPTV, and premium channel NBA TV Philippines), as well as on its over-the-top streaming service Pilipinas Live.

Make sure to check out these events LIVE:

February 15 at 10am: Castrol Rising Stars

February 16 at 9am: State Farm All-Star Saturday Night

February 17 at 9am: 74th NBA All-Star Game  

EASL heads into final sprint

The East Asia Super League is down to just three games in its final two playdates, with an eye towards the upcoming EASL Final Four scheduled to take place in Macau.

Stakes are high, as two spots are still up for grabs, with the two participants from the B. LEAGUE in Hiroshima and Ryukyu locking in their berths earlier.

The first spot will be determined later tonight, as Taoyuan Pauian Pilots host Hong Kong Eastern in a virtual play-in.

Both teams are coming in with contrasting form in arriving to their 3-2 record, as the Pilots losing back-to-back games after winning its first three, while the visitors have won three straight after losing its first two.

Hong Kong's winning streak has been anchored by their inside presence. Chris McLaughlin has averaged 17.8 points and 14.2 rebounds, netting double-doubles in all of their five prelims matches.

If Taoyuan is going to arrest their skid, Lu Chun-Hsiang and their reinforcements Treveon Graham and Alec Brown need to do even more heavy lifting. The trio combine for 63.6 points and almost twenty rebounds.

Preliminary action officially concludes one week later, with both Filipino teams going on the road.

The more notable matchup features the New Taipei Kings against the Meralco Bolts. Even with the inferior record at 2-3, the PBA squad can actually move into second by defeating the 3-2 P.League+ champions.

To defeat the Kings, Meralco will need Akil Mitchell's services. His health has been a concern, having missed not just the last couple of games in the PBA to cap off their eliminations stint, but also in their last game against Ryukyu in the EASL. Mitchell has averaged 25 points and twenty rebounds in continental play and will prove to be a huge factor.

New Taipei has been an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in scoring with 97.5 points. This has been anchored by Kenny Manigault, who was named as the EASL Player of the Month for January, averaging sixteen points, over ten rebounds, and seven assists per game while converting 9-of-10  from the free throw line across both games. Manigault also made history with his triple-double against Busan KCC, netting a 17-10-10, becoming the second player in the league's history to pull off the feat.

Unfortunately, that same game saw Jeremy Lin incur a lower leg injury, limiting his contributions to just five points, two rebounds, and an assist in just under 8.5 mins of action. The Harvard alum also made headlines by being named as one of the coaches for the Castrol Rising Stars this coming NBA All-Star Weekend.

The other matchup features San Miguel traveling to Korea to face Suwon KT. Both teams already eliminated and are hoping to end their continental campaigns on a bright note.

The Beermen have yet to win a game in the EASL this season, and is fresh from concluding their participation in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at 5-7.

They will face off against a Sonicboom side hoping to finish their continental stint at .500, and could potentially have JD Cagulangan make his continental debut. Cagulangan made his first appearance with Suwon on January 11, a few days after the KBL side played its penultimate game in the prelims.

The two-time UAAP champion has averaged 16.7 minutes in Korea, although he played less then ten minutes for the first time this season in their last game against KCC this past weekend.

Cignal has the rights to the EASL games this season, with tonight's matchup to be shown via Pilipinas Live.

Junior Tigresses pounce against Blue Eagles

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Girls Basketball Tournament Standings
NUNS 2-0
UST 2-0
DLSZ 0-2
Ateneo 0-2

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre

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

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas continued to assert its dominance, delivering a commanding 117-29 victory over Ateneo de Manila University to secure its second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

With top scorer Rhiane Perez sidelined due to a minor ankle injury, Grachelle Boteros stepped up, leading the charge with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Barby Dajao also made a significant impact, recording a dominant double-double of 18 points and 17 rebounds, along with five steals and four assists.

This emphatic win sets the stage for UST’s highly anticipated showdown against the National University-Nazareth School on Thursday, February 6, at the same time and venue.

“What we want to do is—naguumpisa pa lang ang Ateneo ‘eh—we want them to have that feel of playing in the UAAP, although alam naman natin na nagsisimula pa lang sila. We want them to enjoy the game itself just like we do,” said Junior Growling Tigresses head coach Arensio Dysangco.

UST wasted no time asserting control, opening the game with a staggering 40-1 first-quarter performance. Ateneo’s lone point in the period came from a free throw by Matia Molina at the 8:29 mark.

By halftime, the Junior Growling Tigresses extended their lead to 71-6, forcing 26 turnovers while holding the Blue Eagles to a dismal 2-of-22 shooting. Ateneo’s only two field goals in the first half came from Tyler Templo—a three-pointer at the 7:35 mark and a jumper at the 4:07 mark of the second quarter.

Although UST eased up in the second half, Ateneo managed to score 23 points on 10-of-38 shooting. However, the damage had already been done, with UST’s first-half dominance proving insurmountable.

The Junior Growling Tigresses led by as many as 90 points, falling just six points short of breaking the UAAP girls’ basketball record for the largest winning margin, previously set by the NU Lady Bullpups on January 30.

Jannah Wencensalo contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding five steals and two assists. Giorgina Anonuevo chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist, while Noelle Arciaga also posted 11 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.

Meanwhile, Ateneo dropped to 0-2, joining archrival De La Salle Zobel at the bottom of the four-team standings.

Templo led the Blue Eagles in the loss with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Molina added nine points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Ateneo will look to secure its first win when it faces fellow struggling team De La Salle Zobel on Sunday, February 9, at the same time and venue.


Fifth Game (Girls):

UST (117) - Boteros 19, Dajao 18, Wencenslao 15, Anonuevo 11, Arciaga 11, Floreindo 7, Petalcorin 6, Pinuela 6, Banate 6, Tambawan 6, Onate 5, Insoy 4, Villarin 2, Abrantes 1.

Ateneo (29) - Templo 10, Molina 9, Exconde 6, Bernardo 2, Lo 2, Doque 0, Pangilinan 0, Bacayo 0, Burdeos 0, Linaza 0, Gozum 0, Cacanindin 0, Lee 0.

Quarterscores: 45-1, 71-6, 102-16, 117-29.

Godoy lifts Baby Tamaraws over Junior Warriors in double overtime

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament Standings

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

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre

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

FAR Eastern University-Diliman found a hero in Jheremy Godoy, who drained a buzzer-beating game-winner to lift the Baby Tamaraws to a thrilling 97-95 double-overtime victory against University of the East in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Though many expected Cabonilas to take the final shot in double overtime, the Gilas Youth standout found Godoy, a 17-year-old guard from Manaoag, Pangasinan, wide open in the left corner for the game-winning jumper.

After leading by as many as 20 points in regulation, the Baby Tamaraws fell victim to a 23-10 fourth-quarter run by the Junior Warriors, which forced the extra period. Despite the setback, the Baby Tamaraws held their ground and averted disaster, remaining in second place in the standings with a 3-1 record.

“‘Yon gusto ko sa mga batang ito, maganda fighting spirit nila. Kahit nahabol sila, nandoon pa rin yung depensa nila, yung pressure nila. Hindi sila naggive up. Sabi ko nga, hindi tayo mananalo kung babagsak agad kayo sa pressure,” said FEU-D assistant coach Bert Flores, who filled in for head coach Denok Miranda.

Miranda was still with the 16-and-under team of the Baby Tamaraws in Japan.

The Baby Tamaraws appeared to be on the brink of defeat in the second overtime when Louie Bual and Ethan Aguas teamed up to give the Junior Warriors a 92-88 lead.

However, Marc Burgos answered with a layup, and Liam Salangsang converted two free throws to tie the game at 92-all with 1:26 left.

Just as FEU-D seemed poised to survive UE’s comeback with a three-point spurt from Cabonilas that gave the Baby Tamaraws a 95-92 lead, Nicholash Lorenzo buried a triple to tie the game at 95-all with 7.6 seconds remaining.

That’s when Godoy came through, delivering the game-winning shot at the last moment for FEU-D.

Down 77-83 in the first overtime, the Baby Tamaraws fought back to force a second extra period thanks to a clutch triple from Yosef Raneses with 7.1 seconds remaining.

The Junior Warriors had managed to force overtime after overcoming a 52-70 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 75-all.

Cabonilas posted the second triple-double of the season, tallying 23 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and three blocks, while Burgos contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Salangsang finished with 16 points, four assists, three rebounds, and one steal, while Mico Pascual added 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.

Godoy ended his heroic performance with eight points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal.

Meanwhile, UE absorbed its second consecutive loss, dropping to a tie for fifth place with defending champion Adamson University at 2-3.

Edry Alejandro paced the Junior Warriors in the loss with 24 points, 21 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

Lance Sabroso tallied 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block, while Xedric Diaz also scored 14 points with six rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Ethan Aguas contributed 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block.

Bual posted an all-around effort with seven points, nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and one block.

In the last boys' game of the day, University of Santo Tomas secured its fourth straight win with an 82-67 triumph over De La Salle Zobel.

The victory matched Tiger Cubs' best start in UAAP boys' basketball since Season 72, improving to a 4-1 record.

“I’m happy for the boys na naachieve namin ‘yan, pero it doesn’t mean anything kung hindi kami magcchampion. Sabi ko nga, one game at a time, kung ano ‘man yung nagagawa nilang records, we don’t care about that. All we care about is winning every game,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.

With co-captain Kirk Cañete, Gilas Youth member Wacky Ludovice, and Senegalese forward Racine Kane leading the way, the Tiger Cubs raced to an early 27-9 lead in the first period and never looked back.

DLSZ trimmed the lead to as low as 52-38 in the third period, but UST quickly responded with a 13-2 run, sending the Junior Archers into a game-high 65-40 deficit.

The Junior Archers once again cut the lead to 65-50, but a seven-point spurt from Ludovice and Kane sealed the Tiger Cubs' win with an 18-point, 71-53 cushion with 5:54 remaining.

Kane posted his fourth consecutive double-double, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Ludovice contributed 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists.

Team captain Koji Buenaflor added 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Cañete chipped in nine points, five assists, and one steal.

UST ended DLSZ’s two-game streak and dropped the Junior Archers from a tie for second place to solo fourth with a 3-2 record.

Kieffer Alas was limited to 16 points (10 free throws) on 3-of-13 shooting but contributed six rebounds, five assists, and one block.

Maco Dabao also struggled, scoring 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting, along with four assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Cameroonian center Christian Mben added 11 points, seven rebounds, and one steal, while Bonn Daja tallied seven points, 11 rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Third Game (Boys):

FEU-D (97) - Cabonilas 23, Burgos 19, Salangsang 16, Pascual 15, Godoy 8, Raneses 8, Gemao 6, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 0, Hall 0, Maierhofer 0.

UE (95) - Alejandro 24, Sabroso 14, Diaz 14, Aguas 11, Bual 7, Lorenzo 6, Chua 4, Bana 4, Almanza 3, Lagat 3, Timbol 3, Cuevas 2.

Quarterscores: 18-11, 43-29, 65-52, 75-75, 85-85, 97-95.

Fourth Game (Boys):

UST (82) - Kane 16, Ludovice 15, Buenaflor 12, Canete 9, Solon 6, Acido 4, Bucsit 4, Esteban 4, Manding 4, Catalan 4, Bohol 2, Javier 2, Vidanes 0, Cinco 0, Bandingan 0.

DLSZ (67) - Alas 16, Dabao 15, Mben 11, Daja 7, Espinosa 7, Espinosa 7, Arejola 4, Atienza 4, Alpapara 3, Borrero 0, Favis 0, Tailan 0, Gubat 0.

Quarterscores: 27-11, 44-30, 65-46, 82-67.

Five straight wins for the Bullpups in UAAP HS Basketball

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre

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

NATIONAL University Nazareth School extended its unbeaten streak to five games after demolishing the struggling University of the Philippines Integrated School, 90-34, in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Reigning MVP Collins Akowe led the Bullpups' charge with his fifth double-double in as many games, recording 21 points, 16 rebounds, and three assists. Mac Alfanta provided solid support, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting while adding two rebounds, two steals, and one assist in the dominant 56-point victory.

The Akowe-Alfanta duo has been instrumental in NUNS' unbeaten run, steering the Bullpups to a flawless 6-0 record. They now brace for two crucial matchups against fellow contender University of the East and defending champion Adamson University to close their first-round campaign.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, we don’t have to be complacent. Ayaw namin mag-relax kahit hindi pa tapos yung first round. We have to make a statement kasi ang next game namin is UE, one of the contenders, then last game is yung defending champions. Gusto lang namin magkaroon ng magandang springboard,” said NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro.

The Bullpups asserted their dominance early with a 20-7 first-quarter surge, burying UPIS in a 32-point hole, 46-14, by halftime.

That early lead proved to be all NUNS needed as they continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring the Fighting Maroons 44-20, including a 25-8 fourth-quarter blitz to seal their fifth consecutive win.

Six-foot-six center Migs Palanca contributed 13 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block, while Kurl Figueroa chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist.

Meanwhile, Tom Pillado made his Season 87 debut after serving a four-game suspension, finishing with four assists and three rebounds.

In the other morning game, Mark Esperanza propelled defending champion Adamson University to a hard-fought 56-52 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, snapping a two-game skid.

Esperanza, a 5-foot-11 Gilas Youth guard, flirted with a triple-double, tallying 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting, 14 rebounds, nine assists (all in the first half), and five steals.

The victory ended the Baby Falcons' two-game losing streak—one that included setbacks against contenders UST Tiger Cubs and DLSZ Junior Archers—improving their record to 2-3 for sixth place.

“It’s a hard-earned victory for us. Hats off din sa Ateneo, they played well. But in the end, breaks of the game na lang nangyari ‘eh. Nakapag-capitalize kami doon [and] we were able to score. At least, na-arrest namin yung skid namin at sana dire-diretso na,” said Adamson head coach Mike Fermin.

A floater from Esperanza and a three-pointer from Javi Artango gave the Baby Falcons an eight-point cushion.

However, Ateneo fought back with consecutive triples from Renzo Gatmaitan and Chris Urbina, trimming the deficit to 53-51 with 6:18 remaining.

Down the stretch, Adamson held its ground with clutch free throws and crucial defensive stops.

With 1:58 left, Esperanza and Ziv Espinas exchanged free throws, setting the score at 54-52. Ateneo had chances to tie or take the lead, but Jay-M Leal missed two crucial inside shots, the latter blocked by Earl Medina.

Despite a 24-second shot clock violation by Adamson, the Blue Eagles failed to capitalize, with Leal and Espinas missing layups and Gatmaitan misfiring on a potential go-ahead three-pointer with less than 10 seconds left.

Gabe de Jesus added 10 points for Adamson, while Artango contributed six points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Gilas Youth big man Allen Perez also chipped in six points, seven rebounds, and two assists.

On the other hand, both Ateneo and UPIS remained winless at 0-5, staying at the bottom of the eight-team standings.

Urbina, despite a tough shooting night (3-of-11), still managed 11 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Leal finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, along with one assist, one steal, and one block.

TJ Delos Santos chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Gatmaitan recorded eight points, four rebounds, and one steal.

Meanwhile, no Fighting Maroon reached double figures in scoring, with Bruce Tubongbanua and Rocco Melicor leading UPIS with nine points apiece.

First Game (Boys):

AdU (56) - Esperanza 25, De Jesus 10, Artango 6, Perez 6, Medina 5, Penafiel 3, Decatoria 1, Murillo 0, Umali 0, Tumaneng 0, Jenodia 0, Sajili 0.

Ateneo (52) - Urbina 11, Leal 11, Delos Santos 10, Gatmaitan 8, Espinas 3, Tan 3, Asistio 3, Aquino 2, Ymasa 1, Lagdamen 0, Reyes 0, Lacsamana 0, Kallos 0.

Quarterscores: 14-17, 36-26, 48-42, 56-52.

Second Game (Boys):

NUNS (90) - Akowe 21, Palanca 13, Alfanta 12, Figueroa 11, Locsin 6, Lucido 6, Usop 5, Natinga 5, Nepacena 4, Cartel 3, Matias 2, Bouzina 2, Pillado 0, Napa 0, Casala 0.

UPIS (34) - Tubongbanua 9, Melicor 9, De Liano 4, Hallare 3, Coronel 3, Egea 2, Poquiz 2, Gepitan 2, Uvero 0, Cobico 0, Mariano 0, Rosete 0, Hernandez 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 20-7, 46-14, 65-26, 90-34.

FEU-Diliman, UST impress heading into finals rematch

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament Standings

FEU-D 12 points (+12)

UST 10 points (+10)

DLSZ 7 points (-1)

Southridge 3 points (-1)

Ateneo 3 points (-4)

Claret 0 points (-16)

Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium

2 p.m. — SRG vs Ateneo

4:30 p.m. — DLSZ vs CSQC

7 p.m. — FEU-D vs UST

AHEAD of their final rematch, Far Eastern University-Diliman and the University of Santo Tomas secured dominant victories against De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de Manila University, respectively, in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Football Tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

FEU-D opened the day with a commanding 3-0 win over La Salle, while UST followed with an emphatic 5-2 triumph against Ateneo.

Meanwhile, in a clash between guest teams, PAREF Southridge clinched its first-ever UAAP victory by routing Claret School of Quezon City 4-0 in front of a packed crowd, split between the supporters of both schools.

Rookie forward Jerriemy Biton delivered a brace to power the Baby Tamaraws to their fourth straight win and increase his personal tally to five goals in just four matches.

“Sobrang saya ko kasi si Biton is a really special striker for us,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo after the match. “Every moment sa game, especially sa attacking side, nandun siya. He has the right timing and proper positioning. He’s a very, very special player.”

Unlike in their previous match against Ateneo—where FEU-D struggled to break the deadlock before halftime—Biton wasted no time putting his team ahead. His long-range attempt in the 11th minute was mishandled by La Salle goalkeeper Jacob Salvante, giving FEU-D an early lead. He doubled the advantage in the 39th minute with a swift counterattack.

La Salle's struggles worsened in the second half when defender Armand Lugod was sent off in the 69th minute for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. FEU-D sealed the victory in stoppage time as Reynaldo Martinez found the back of the net in the 90+3rd minute.

“Siguro, this will be a good game against UST,” Morallo added, looking ahead to their next match. “Unang-una, I think sila wala ring talo no? And even from last year, they’re really hungry makuha tong kampeonato, same as sa amin. I think sa game na ito, bibigyan namin sila ng magandang laban.”

Like Biton, Mark Visitacion netted a brace to lead UST to a dominant win over Ateneo.

Visitacion struck twice in the first half, scoring in the 21st and 35th minutes to give UST a comfortable two-goal cushion at halftime.

Joshua Balliner seemingly put the game beyond reach with a goal in the 51st minute, but Ateneo’s James Del Valle responded with a stunning free kick in the 65th minute to make it 3-1.

River Solis restored UST’s three-goal lead in the 75th minute, only for Ateneo to pull one back through an 80th-minute penalty by Andres Dumlao.

However, UST substitute striker Lucky Aque ensured all three points with an 82nd-minute strike.

“Happy ako sa performance ng boys pero (pagdating) sa expectations namin, may kailangan pa i-meet at kaya pa ng boys gumaling. Yun yung hinihintay namin so patient kami game-by-game,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “Nag-pe-prepare kami for the last game in the first round. Yung ginagawa naman sa players is to familiarize kung paano maglaro ang FEU at kung paano namin sila tatapatan sa Saturday.”

The Baby Tamaraws solidified their hold on first place with 12 points, while the Junior Golden Booters climbed to solo second with 10 points.

On the other hand, Francis Poticano opened the scoring for the Admirals in the 30th minute with a tap-in and completed the rout in stoppage time with a goal in the 90+2nd minute.

Ramil Fraga extended the lead with a header in the 37th minute, while Joziah Rance added his name to the scoresheet in the 58th minute.

“We thank God for today and for giving us the victory,” said Southridge’s Ghanian coach Sam Bonney. “I think we prepared very well. If you watched our last two games, we came very close with FEU and La Salle Zobel, so I think the momentum is there, and we were able to get the victory today.”

With this result, Southridge moved up to fourth place, edging Ateneo due to a superior goal difference of -1 compared to Ateneo’s -4.

Meanwhile, Claret remains at the bottom of the standings with zero points.