LA SALLE lives up to the hype and wins for Topex Robinson his second championship in three seasons.
Just like Aldin Ayo's crew led by Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng flanked by the likes of veterans Andrei Caracut, Kib Montalbo, Jason Perkins, Thomas Torres, and Abu Tratter and rookies Justine Baltazar, Aljun Melecio, and Ricci Rivero once did, the Green Archers leave no doubt in avenging their failed title defense last year.
That seems to be where the wind is blowing in UAAP Season 88, right?
Here, you may read about what SPIN.ph thinks about each and every team:
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Bulldogs' big picture now crystal clear
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Red Warriors giving swag with fiery Gavina in charge
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
LA SALLE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Great expectations, meet Green Archers
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: It's Fighting Maroons against the world
Of course, the other seven squads will do their darndest to prove preseason projections wrong.
But it's still tough to bet against a La Salle side that still has Mike Phillips, EJ Gollena, Earl Abadam, and Jc Macalalag, then added starter-caliber transferees in Mason Amos, Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, and Luis Pablo.
So let's just say the odds won't be defied and the Green Archers stand tall at the end of this year.
Come next season, however, they're about to get a taste of their own medicine.
UP fright
In the same way Amos, Baclaan, Cortez, and Pablo would be immediate impact transferees for La Salle, it's the University of the Philippines' - which had just been dethroned in this scenario - turn to bring in the cavalry in the form of former UAAP Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre, former NCAA Finals MVP James Payosing, Rain Maga, and U.S. NCAA big Dieonte Miles as foreign student-athlete (FSA).
And who's that also arriving to man the backcourt alongside Rey Remogat? You haven't forgotten about Andy Gemao, have you? The Gilas Pilipinas Youth stud continues to try his luck in North America, but 2026 looks like the perfect time to reintroduce himself to Philippine basketball.
Add to that another season of development from Remogat, Gani Stevens, Jacob Bayla, and Chicco Briones, and the Fighting Maroons would be fully-equipped to bounce back from missing out on the championship round for the first time under coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Yes, you heard that right. State U wouldn't be the squad downed by the Green Archers in the finals.
Rather, that would be University of Santo Tomas, which would be even hungrier after taking another step closer to that ever-elusive championship.
Of course, they would no longer have Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao, but former MVP and first-ever Best FSA in the juniors Collins Akowe would have been proven to be worth the time and effort to pry away from Jhocson.
Backstopped by another breakout player in Gelo Crisostomo, as well as Amiel Acido, Mark Llemit, and Koji Buenaflor, Akowe and the Growling Tigers would be favored to return to the finals, especially with Tiger Cub standout Joaqui Ludovice joining the fray.
Aside from Cabanero and Padrigao's departures, though, another shakeup would rock Espana, as Pido Jarencio would move up to a managerial role.
In the vein of Bo Perasol handing over the reins to Monteverde in State U, Jarencio lets a fresh eye take the helm of the black-and-gold. Juniors champion coach Manu Inigo would be in the running, but the job would ultimately go to Juno Sauler, who had once guided La Salle to the mountaintop.
Winning it all would be easier said than done for both UP and UST, however, as the Green Archers would be mostly intact, still with Baclaan and Cortez running the show in their final season.
Amos, Pablo, and Lebron Jhames Daep remain, too, and would be joined by Seven Gagate and Dom Sarmiento, both standing at 6-foot-8, alongside new FSA Moses Mandiria and De La Salle Zobel tower Bonn Daja. Their frontcourt would be as intimidating as ever, even minus Phillips.
Robinson and Co. followed their 'Code of Honor' all the way to the title, and they would have no plans giving it away just like that.
While Jeff Napa's seat got cooler in leading National U back to the Final Four, he would have a rebuild on his hands with 'OGs' Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, and Steve Nash Enriquez no longer in blue-and-gold.
And as the Bullpups - a feeder for the Bulldogs program for the longest time - would also be rebuilding, the onus would fall on holdovers PJ Palacielo, Reinhard Jumamoy, and Tebol Garcia to take on a bigger burden and make sure their side continues its contention.
Adamson would find itself in the same situation, as it would bid farewell to Cedrick Manzano, making Mathew Montebon the top gun in San Marcelino surrounded by Rookie of the Year Earl Medina, Matty Erolon, and AJ Fransman.
There wouldn't be much to expect from the Baby Falcons because 'Rebuilder' Mike Fermin would first have to do what he does best, but as long as Nash Racela sits on the coaching chair, which he would still be doing so here, the Soaring Falcons would always be a tough out and a surprise, but actually-not-so-surprising playoff pick.
The same could not be said of Ateneo, which shattered lowly preseason projections behind one-and-done big Kymani Ladi and vastly improved Jared Bahay. After almost returning to the Final Four, team management would do everything in their power to extend brilliant tactician Tab Baldwin.
The four-time collegiate champion coach, however, would decide to step away to rest and recharge no thanks to his roller-coaster ride in Philippine basketball from Gilas to TNT, and even the Blue Eagles.
And so, Ateneo would need a new coach to oversee the continued growth of Bahay, Divine Adili, Andrew Bongo, Alden Cainglet, and Shawn Tuano, as well as the adjustment of juniors promotions Jay M Leal, Chris Urbina, and Ziv Espinas.
As for Far Eastern University and University of the East, the rebuilds would continue.
The Tamaraws would still have all of Jorick Bautista, Janrey Pasaol, Jedric Daa, Kirby Mongcopa, Liam Salangsang, and Mo Konateh before injecting new life - once more courtesy of the Baby Tamaraws - in the form of Cabs Cabonilas and Marc Burgos, two ready-to-play bigs.
Meanwhile, the Red Warriors would go on sans Precious Momowei and John Abate, with Nico Mulingtapang, Dylan Despi, and Nurjadden Datumalim taking the steering wheel. Perhaps, too, additions from the now-contending Jr. Warriors would be in order, with Ethan Aguas at the top of that list.
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