FINAL UPDATE | December 15, 2024
HERE'S how the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Tournament went from start to finish.
DECEMBER 15
UP fights off La Salle for second title in four seasons
NOWHERE to go but runner-up no more.
Still feeling the pain from back-to-back Game Three failures, the University of the Philippines finally got it done, outdueling Kevin Quiambao-led La Salle, 66-62, in the winner-take-all match on Sunday to claim the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball crown.
Twice denied in the last two years, the Fighting Maroons made sure that their path to the championship would finally be realized in front of a record-setting 25,248 in attendance at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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DECEMBER 11
KQ wills La Salle past UP in Game 2 as UAAP finals goes to Game 3
KEVIN Quiambao said no coronation just yet.
With talks of his impending future in Korea running rampant, the newly crowned back-to-back UAAP MVP made it clear that his focus on the present is on La Salle and La Salle only.
And for the Green Archers, this is all that matters: getting one more shot - in four days, to be exact - to defend their throne with KQ leading the way.
Quiambao went bonkers when it mattered most, pouring 11 points in the fourth quarter, including two backbreaking three-pointers in the last two minutes to salvage a gutsy 76-75 Game Two triumph over the University of the Philippines on Wednesday.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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DECEMBER 10
UP eyes coronation, DLSU fights for life in UAAP Finals Game Two
FINISH the story: That’s all that matters for University of the Philippines.
Seething for almost a year after settling for back-to-back runner-up finishes, the Fighting Maroons have again find themselves in a familiar position – just a win away from their goal of hoisting the championship trophy.
On Wednesday, they hope to finish the job when Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 best-of-three championship series against the La Salle Green Archers is played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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DECEMBER 8
QMB a difference-maker as UP draws first blood vs La Salle
QUENTIN Millora-Brown knew from the very start why the University of the Philippines sought his services.
True enough, he was just what the doctor ordered for the Fighting Maroons.
Millora-Brown, in all of his 6-foot-11 glory, towed UP one game away from fulfilling its wish for redemption, as they fought off La Salle, 73-65, in a tense Game One affair in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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DECEMBER 7
La Salle, UP rekindle new-age rivalry in UAAP Season 87 finals
JUST as everyone anticipated, the consensus two best teams in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament will dispute the crown, with La Salle and the University of the Philippines going mano-a-mano for the second straight year.
It’s a colossal matchup between the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons, with fireworks set to be lit up for Game One on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 30
La Salle wastes no time following UP in UAAP Season 87 finals
NOW showing: La Salle vs. the University of the Philippines, the sequel.
Leaving little to doubt, the Green Archers will get the chance to defend their throne against their modern-day rival Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Finals.
La Salle was just in its full dominant form to arrange that date, brutalizing No. 4 Adamson, 70-55, in their Final Four matchup on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From back-to-back Season MVP Kevin Quiambao to the fringe players, the Taft side was in its element, hardly showing rust even after an 18-day lull.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Alarcon stays hot vs UST, shoots UP to fourth straight finals
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas wanted to write a new story.
However, the University of the Philippines was fine sticking to its same old script.
Showcasing their experience, the Fighting Maroons advanced to the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finals - their fourth straight appearance in the championship round - with a well-earned 78-69 win against the Growling Tigers on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 29
Well-rested La Salle not about to take motivated Adamson lightly
FIFTY five points.
That’s the difference, in total, between Adamson and La Salle in the two meetings they’ve had this UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
The Soaring Falcons have drawn the worst of all the beatings that the Green Archers have given out, with the 27.5 average winning margin being the biggest for the defending champions against any team this year.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Challenging end to elims toughened up Fighting Maroons for bigger wars ahead
THREE wins.
That’s all the University of the Philippines needs to finish the story after failing to do so in the past two seasons.
And as the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four begins, falling short anew is a feeling the Fighting Maroons want to avoid at all costs.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 27
Adamson keeps UE locked out of Final Four, gatecrashes playoff party
SIMPLY put, no one anticipated this - probably not even Adamson.
And yet, this Soaring Falcons team, one that was written out as early as the preseason which even coach Nash Racela admitted to being lesser talented than their foes, just did the improbable.
Against all odds, Racela and his wards are one of the top four teams this UAAP Season 87.
Essaying a rally for the ages, Adamson proved just about everybody wrong and progressed to the Final Four, taking down hapless University of the East with a hard-nosed 68-55 victory in their fourth place playoff on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 26
UE, Adamson clash for final semis spot in UAAP Season 87
IF you have one shot, one opportunity, how would you take it?
It’s the quandary that both Adamson and University of the East face as they have their lives in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on the line.
One last ticket, one that comes with facing the defending champion and no. 1-seed La Salle, is up for grabs in the 6:30 p.m. matchup on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena and you bet, both the Soaring Falcons and the Red Warriors will throw everything including the kitchen sink just to catch that bus.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 23
Adamson stays alive, sets up fourth seed playoff vs UE
WITH Adamson given one last shot at reaching the UAAP Season 87 Final Four, coach Nash Racela asked his players to show just how much they wanted it.
Safe to say, the desire was very much in full view for the Soaring Falcons on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Royce Mantua and Manu Anabo stepped up big for Adamson, as they shot the lights out in their 69-55 triumph over also-ran Ateneo to forge a face-off opposite University of the East for the fourth seed.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 22
Adamson hopes to fight another day, but Ateneo has other plans
NOT everyone’s given a second chance.
But Adamson was just given a new lease on life.
With University of the East ending the eliminations by failing to reach the seven-win plateau, the window remained open for the resolute Soaring Falcons to swoop in and keep themselves in the running.
And for coach Nash Racela, that’s all that matters.
“Ang importante, nasa amin yung control,” he said.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 20
Alarcon, UP shoot down UE's bid for outright entry to Final Four
UNIVERSITY of the East’s dreams of ending a 15-year Final Four drought remains unfulfilled - for three more days, at the very least.
Fumbling the bag anew, the Red Warriors were denied an outright semifinals spot for the fifth straight game, this time falling to red-hot Harold Alarcon and the University of the Philippines, 77-67, on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Alarcon just could not let UE gain its long -waited breakthrough at State U’s expense, waxing hot with a career-high 33 points on a sizzling 5-of-8 shooting for the No. 2 Fighting Maroons who are now gearing for their own UAAP Season 87 Final Four duel against three-seed University of Santo Tomas.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 19
Skidding UE out to book semis spot the hard way vs. mighty UP
NOT everyone gets a chance to make it to the Final Four, but for University of the East, it got five.
And although they flubbed their first four tries, the Red Warriors still have one last crack at avoiding complications and move on to the postseason of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
That’s why despite the hard luck that has befallen the Recto squad, coach Jack Santiago is opting to stick to the positives, knowing that no matter how terrible the four-game losing skid has been, all it takes is for one win to rectify their problems.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 16
UST books return to Final Four as Amiel Acido breaks out vs Adamson
HOW fitting is it that Amiel Acido's best game for University of Santo Tomas came inside the venue he knows by heart.
The former NCAA juniors MVP returned to his old stomping grounds, the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, on Saturday and shot the Growling Tigers over Adamson, 75-49, and into the UAAP Season 87 Final Four.
As its promising prospect finally got going, the black-and-gold finally got back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, when it went all the way to the finals behind Season MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo, CJ Cansino, Renzo Subido, Rhenz Abando, and Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UP returns to form, ends FEU's late playoff charge
WHAT was missing in the University of the Philippines' back-to-back losses in UAAP Season 87 was finally found once more.
The Fighting Maroons put forth their enviable depth and balance to push off desperate Far Eastern University, 86-78, Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Gerry Abadiano topped the scoring column with a 19 points, on top of four rebounds and two steals and was flanked by six other teammates who contributed somewhere between six to 12 markers.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 15
Adamson won't let 'one shot' at surprise Final Four berth go to waste
ALL Adamson wanted was a fighting chance.
From the start up to now in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, all coach Nash Racela wanted was for his boys to be able to compete all the way to a chance at the next round.
“Buhay pa kami, pumoporma,” he said, with the Soaring Falcons holding onto a 5-7 win-loss record.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 13
Ateneo adds onto misery of Final Four-seeking UE
ATENEO may be out of the running in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, but it did not let University of the East book a Final Four ticket at its expense.
The Blue Eagles emerged victorious anew at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Wednesday, taking down the semifinal-dreaming Red Warriors with a 71-67 escape.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NU extinguishes La Salle's nine-game hot streak
DON’T tell National University it’s a no bearing game.
The Bulldogs, with nothing to lose and simply eyeing to end the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on a high, tripped up listless La Salle, 63-54, Wednesday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
It’s the second big fish National U has caught inside the Espana venue, with it previously upsetting the University of the Philippines, 67-47, back in Nov. 3.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 12
As UE bombs in round two, Jack Santiago scrambles for answers
FROM a shoo-in in the Final Four, University of the East now finds itself in a dire situation clinging on to the hopes of rediscovering its form amid this recent funk.
Even coach Jack Santiago was left puzzled with how fates have changed in one instant as they muffed their last three chances to get to seven wins and gain an outright ticket to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball semifinals.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 10
La Salle re-asserts mastery over UP to lock up top seed
JUST how much is Kevin Quiambao worth to La Salle?
Quite frankly, a lot.
That much was in full display again for the Green Archers with the reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP securing them the top seed in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament with an impressive 77-66 triumph over rival University of the Philippines on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Adamson wakes NU up from Final Four-dreaming
ADAMSON needed no miracles this time, taking care of business in regulation, while also sending another team home.
AJ Fransman commandeered the Soaring Falcons' superb finishing kick to eliminate National University from Final Four contention in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, 53-41, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 9
KQ hopes to return to form as La Salle aims for overall top seed
KEVIN Quiambao may have taken the backseat last time for La Salle, but don’t expect it to be the norm for the reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP.
And with the University of the Philippines up next, the Gilas Pilipinas forward made it clear that he’s putting himself to work to get back his old, deadly form.
“Hinahabol ko yung conditioning ko kasi ang mindset namin is to treat every game as a championship game and to honor our seniors. Kahit sino yung kalaban namin, gusto lang naming ipakita yung best namin,” he said.
It’s a test of durability not just for Quiambao, but for the 11-1 Green Archers, as they try to keep up their stellar play against the Fighting Maroons (9-2) on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UST drags down UE, kicks Ateneo out of playoff race
YOU just can't let the big boss down.
With San Miguel Corp. (SMC) sports director Alfrancis Chua present for the first time in the second round, University of Santo Tomas averted another major collapse and staved off University of the East, 76-67, on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It's a win that certainly uplifted the spirit of the Growling Tigers' main benefactor after Barangay Ginebra's PBA finals defeat the night before, but more importantly, injected hope into UST's Final Four aspirations this UAAP Season 87.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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FEU adds Ateneo to list of second round victims
FAR Eastern University continued to be the harbinger of doom for Ateneo.
Using a steady second half, the Tamaraws pushed the Blue Eagles to the brink of elimination in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament with a 65-54 nipping on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 8
UE, UST fight over right to step forward in return to Final Four
BOTH University of the East and University of Santo Tomas have the same goal in mind: to make it to the Final Four of the ongoing UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
After all, it's been a while since the two proud programs made it to the semifinals.
The Red Warriors last reached that level way back in 2009 when the likes of Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu, and Pari Llagas were still in the red-and-whites and finished as runner-up to Ateneo of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Noy Baclao.
On the flipside, it's been a five-year wait for the Growling Tigers, who last made it through when Soulemane Chabi Yo, Rhenz Abando, and Mark Nonoy were repping the black-and-gold and ended up as bridesmaids to the Thirdy Ravena and Ange Kouame-led Blue Eagles.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 6
NU frustrates UST as follow-up to takedown of UP
LOUD and clear, National University said no one’s gonna be eliminated just yet this Wednesday.
Feeling the cold, hard wall behind their backs, still, the Bulldogs bit University of Santo Tomas hard with a 67-62 stunner at Mall of Asia Arena.
Jake Figueroa scored nine of his 13 points in National U’s amazing fourth quarter fightback to keep his side alive and kicking in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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La Salle escapes FEU even with Kevin Quiambao struggling
WHEN Batman is off, expect Robin to step up.
And as Kevin Quiambao was throwing bricks on Wednesday, Mike Phillips was the one to take charge for La Salle, as it did just enough to evade the upset ax from Far Eastern University for a hard-earned 58-53 win at Mall of Asia Arena in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Phillips came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 17 points, including a tough shot over Mo Konateh with 24.1 seconds left that gave the defending champions a 57-51 lead.
Add to that his 15 rebounds, five steals, two assists, and two blocks, and it only highlighted the luxury Taft has in having several talented towers, while also preserving their sole possession of first place at 11-1.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 5
Revitalized FEU, NU seek upsets anew after morale boosting wins
DEAD in the water at certain points of their campaign, Far Eastern University and National University suddenly find themselves with positive outlooks heading into the homestretch of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
With little to no expectation weighing them down, both the Tamaraws and the Bulldogs are coming into their final games without much stress as they want to focus on building on their teams.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 3
UPset alert! Lowly yet hungry NU takes fight out of UP
WITH National University’s season on the line, Patrick Yu, the most veteran of all Bulldogs, engineered a revival for the ages.
The Jhocson side dug deep and stunned a twice-to-beat-seeking University of the Philippines, claiming a surprising 67-47 blowout on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Yu, playing his fifth year for NU, found his shooting touch when it mattered most, as he drained five triples, three of which coming in the third frame where his side grabbed a 55-31 advantage.
But he only made sure that the upset would be a reality, as the Bulldogs capitalized on a blazing 20-4 start that left the Fighting Maroons dazed and confused.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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FEU crosses over to Espana to pound on already-grounded UE
ALL of a sudden, the race for the last two spots in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Final Four got much more interesting.
Far Eastern University, that young and spunky crew of first-year coach Sean Chambers, was the latest to complicate the seemingly set postseason picture by stunning University of the East, 59-51, on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NOVEMBER 2
Desperate NU stands between UP and twice-to-beat advantage
WITH its eyes firmly set on reclaiming the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball crown, the University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde promises to have no letups.
"Expect na we will work harder to improve the team," he said, repeating the ethos which he has kept from the season's onset up to now when the Fighting Maroons tout a 9-1 win-loss record.
"Each game would be a stepping stone for us to be better and importante lang, we should be healthy as a team then in a way, we'll still improve."
Four games remain in State U's schedule and it can check one off its list, as it seeks to gain a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four when it plays cellar-dwelling National University on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 30
UP hands Ateneo worst loss in Tab era to sweep Battle of Katipunan
NOW, the University of the Philippines can certainly say it owns Katipunan.
Victorious once again in the highly-anticipated Battle of Katipunan, State U humiliated Ateneo by 28 points, 75-47, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena to complete a UAAP Season 87 sweep of its modern-day rivals.
Francis Lopez presided over the rout, uncorking 20 points on an efficient 7-of-9 clip off the bench, to go with five rebounds, as the Fighting Maroons dealt the Blue Eagles their biggest losing margin in coach Tab Baldwin’s seven-year tenure.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Adamson brings down UE to breathe life into playoff hopes
ADAMSON put the clamps on a University of the East side that once had a full head of steam for a gritty 45-37 decision on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Soaring Falcons held the Red Warriors to five points in the final frame, while scoring 12 of their own to seal the deal in their fourth win in 11 games in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
In all, Adamson allowed just 15 field goals out of 57 attempts, including a 3-of-24 mark from threes, while also forcing 21 turnovers.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 27
UST fends off hard-charging FEU to keep hold of No. 4 spot
MO Tounkara's return righted the ship for University of Santo Tomas.
And it couldn't have come at a better time, all the more with the Espana side clinging on for dear life at No. 4 in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
Coming back from his one-game suspension, the Malian center proved to be the missing piece for UST to halt a three-game slide and come away with a 79-70 victory vs. Far Eastern University on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UP joins La Salle in Final Four with hard-fought win vs Adamson
NO need for comebacks this time for the University of the Philippines.
Learning from their first round meeting, the Fighting Maroons took care of business and repulsed Adamson, 70-59, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena to book the second Final Four ticket in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
JD Cagulangan shot 3-of-6 from deep for his 17 points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Gani Stevens tallied a season-best 10 points and four rebounds as State U improved to 8-1 thanks to back-to-back wins.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 26
KQ resets career high as La Salle scores elims sweep of archrival Ateneo
MIGHT as well call it the Kevin Quiambao show.
The reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP hogged the spotlight in the rivalry match, resetting his career-best in scoring in La Salle’s eliminations sweep of fierce foe Ateneo, 80-65, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Quiambao’s 33-point night boosted the Green Archers’ twice-to-beat chances in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, as they remained alone atop the standings with a 10-1 win-loss record.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UE tightens grip on third seed after trumping NU
JUST how hungry was University of the East to get back to action?
The Red Warriors, coming off a rare two-week break, poured it on and then drowned out National University.
UE was just a house on fire on Saturday, shooting the lights out of the Mall of Asia Arena to blast the hapless Bulldogs, 74-58, and rejig its Final Four drive in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UP out to avoid flat start against Adamson in round two rematch
GOLDWIN Monteverde always demands the best from his players.
That’s already given, all the more for a University of the Philippines team seeking redemption in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
And with a chance to secure at least a playoff for the Final Four spot on Sunday, the soft-spoken mentor is expecting nothing less even if the Fighting Maroons are coming off a two-week break.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 25
Guard up for La Salle vs suddenly-streaking archrival Ateneo
FOR some reason, La Salle has been very lucky when it comes to scheduling.
In the last two playdates that have been rescheduled due to venue availability and inclement weather, the defending champions have not been affected, allowing them to stay in their groove.
"It is what it is. Maswerte siguro, and it's good for us in a way because it will not affect our preparations. But eventually you'll still play these games whether you're unaffected or had games postponed," said coach Topex Robinson.
Even if the Green Archers are the first team to book their ticket to the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Final Four, the mentor reminded his boys to not fall into the traps of complacency even more with rival and resurgent Ateneo next on their schedule this Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 19
La Salle claims Final Four berth after outclassing Adamson
THE road to the championship begins and ends with La Salle.
And rightfully so, as the Green Archers were the first to book a ticket to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four courtesy of a demolition of Adamson, 70-45, on Saturday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Ateneo gets win run going, while also sending UST to third loss in a row
ATENEO pulled off probably the biggest heist of UAAP Season 87.
Playing in enemy territory with a spirited crowd boosting the home team, the Blue Eagles came away with a 67-64 stunner over undermanned University of Santo Tomas on Saturday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Clinging to a two-point lead in the endgame, Sean Quitevis stole the ball from Nic Cabanero in the inbounds play and easily scored the game-sealing layup with 11.7 seconds left that left the Final Four-dreaming Tigers dazed.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 18
Won for UST? Fired up but shorthanded Tigers host Ateneo
THERE’S no place like home, as they say.
And in the midst of losing back-to-back games this UAAP Season 87, University of Santo Tomas looks to find relief inside its walls when it gets a rare home court advantage at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.
Yet as uplifting as the prospect of playing in front of its fans is, Forthsky Padrigao erred on the side of caution, knowing that this edge can go both ways.
“We can’t be complacent. Minsan kasi may dagdag pressure yan, gigil ka mag-perform, so you don’t play at your best,” he said of this upcoming matchup against Ateneo. “So for us, we’ll treat it as just like any other game and try to perform.”
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 16
Quiambao-led La Salle remains first as UST runs out of gas in OT
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas sought a statement win.
La Salle had other plans, however.
Squandering an early 20-point lead, the Green Archers needed extra time to outpoise the Growling Tigers, 94-87, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Kevin Quiambao, as always, came through for the defending champions, as he unloaded a season-high 29 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal to set the tone in the extension where La Salle held UST to a solitary field goal.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Bautista, FEU steadier in the clutch vs NU for third win in last four games
REMEMBER when Sean Chambers said near the end of the first round that young Far Eastern University is going to be a problem for the UAAP?
Well, he didn't need to wait long to be proven correct.
His Tamaraws are already giving headaches early in Round 2 of the Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, this time repulsing National University, 65-58, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 15
UST wants more than just to simply ‘compete’ in clash vs La Salle
THERE’S no question in coach Pido Jarencio’s mind that University of Santo Tomas can compete.
They’ve shown that so far in UAAP Season 87 in trying to keep up with the league’s big boys.
But if there’s something that his past brushes against the top teams have shown, it’s that there’s still a world of difference between competing and actually winning.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 13
Returning Cagulangan sparks UP to bounce back win at UST's expense
IF it ain't broke, don't fix it.
That's exactly what the University of the Philippines did, once again clamping down on University of Santo Tomas to take the 83-73 conquest on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Defense did the trick anew for the Fighting Maroons, holding the Growling Tigers to just 11 in the payoff period, as they ran away with a telling 16-2 tear punctuated by a pair of freebies from JD Cagulangan to make it a 77-67 affair with 4:09 left.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Rookies Bahay, Porter come up big vs NU to carry Ateneo back into win column
WINS are going to be hard to come by for a rebuilding team like Ateneo.
But what matters most is that they're laying down the groundwork for what they envision will be a brighter Blue Eagle future.
Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter made sure that the foundation is rightfully placed for Ateneo, hacking out a 70-68 escape from National University on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 12
Vengeful La Salle gets back at UE, snaps Red Warriors streak at 5
MICHAEL Phillips made sure that there won't be any repeat as La Salle redeemed itself with a 77-68 triumph over first round tormentors University of the East on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The fourth-year forward got off to a fast start, uncorking 20 of his 27 points in the first half, to go with 17 rebounds as he kept the Green Archers' four-game win streak going.
His stupendous game, punctuated by a thunderous dunk with 2:10 left made it a 73-65 affair to secure the victory as they staved off the Red Warriors' late uprising.
It ended UE’s five-game win streak to fall to a 5-3 card.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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FEU braves through Adamson's repeated rallies for win No. 2
SEAN Chambers was upbeat about Far Eastern University's position despite being tied at the bottom of the standings of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
In his eyes, despite their struggles to conjure a win, he likes where the Tamaraws are right now - this young, yet this dangerous.
Adamson learned that the hard way, as FEU got one back with a 76-72 overtime victory to start the second round on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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First loss in UAAP Season 87 shows exactly what UP needs to work on
LOSING for the first time doesn’t mean that the world is crumbling.
That’s clear for the University of the Philippines.
Falling for the first time in UAAP Season 87 to La Salle, 68-56, the Fighting Maroons incurred the first blemish to their record, as the decision stopped what had been a dominant showing for the maroon-and-green.
But more than the result, what coach Goldwin Monteverde magnified was the lessons that the Diliman side could pick up from the Finals rematch.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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OCTOBER 11
Hottest teams in UAAP collide when UE challenges La Salle anew
UNIVERSITY of the East coach Jack Santiago could pinpoint the moment when the tides changed for his wards for the better.
“Doon talaga, nung natalo namin yung No. 1 team,” he said, looking back at that 75-71 shocker last Sept. 22 when UE stunned La Salle in the second of what is now a five-game win streak.
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OCTOBER 6
La Salle takes top spot from UP at end of UAAP Season 87 first round
TO be the man, you got to beat the man.
Sunday showed just that as La Salle continued to get the better of the University of the Philippines, 68-56, to re-assert its place atop of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Kevin Quiambao put on the finishing touches for the Green Archers, drilling a big three to cap off a 10-2 blast that restored the lead to 12, 65-53, with 3:43 to play to stave off a furious Fighting Maroons rally in front of 16,106 at Mall of Asia Arena.
It’s the kind of performance you expect from the reigning Season and Finals MVP, as he led the defending champions with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists to claim the No. 1 spot at the end of the first round with its 6-1 win-loss record.
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UE remains red-hot as Lingolingo comes to the rescue vs Adamson
GIVE Wello Lingolingo this day.
The veteran forward saved University of the East from the jaws of defeat, knocking down the game-winning jumper to take the 63-62 thriller over Adamson on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
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OCTOBER 5
NU sends Ateneo to last place at end of UAAP Season 87 Round 1
SOMETIMES, you just need a win to hit the reset button.
National University did it the hard way, taking a bit of a reprieve in what has been a struggle of a campaign this UAAP Season 87 with a huge 78-68 victory over Ateneo on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Yes, a singular win doesn’t change the fact that the Bulldogs are still near the bottom of the standings with a measly 2-5 win-loss record to show for their troubles.
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UST doubles win total from last season after downing FEU
FORTHSKY Padrigao believes that University of Santo Tomas still could be better.
But from where the Growling Tigers stand at the end of the first round, it's already a significant improvement from where the hard-luck Espana side was over the past few years.
The point guard extraordinaire was the catalyst anew, as UST stopped Far Eastern University dead in its tracks, 83-72, on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Padrigao fired 14 points built on two triples, as well as dished out 11 assists, two of which came in the final two minutes when the Growling Tigers staved off a late rally from the Tamaraws.
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La Salle and its young guards eager to learn from 'mighty' UP
LA Salle coach Topex Robinson was frank enough to admit that his side is coming in as underdog ahead of the much-awaited Finals rematch against the University of the Philippines on Sunday.
“We know how mighty they are. That’s a solid team with good players and great coaching,” he said.
Previous results have tilted the scales in favor of the Fighting Maroons over the Green Archers, with the maroon-and-green winning twice against the green-and-white in their clashes in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
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OCTOBER 4
Chambers, Jarencio bring Alaska-Ginebra flair to FEU-UST showdown
SEAN Chambers still vividly recalls his first encounters with Pido Jarencio back in their playing days.
On opposing sides of a heated rivalry between Alaska and Ginebra in the 1990s, physicality was always expected - if not encouraged - as the two sides refused to give each other any inch.
Chambers, the resident import for the Milkmen and now-Far Eastern University shot-caller, remembers the hits like it was yesterday, so much so that he feels Jarencio still owes him for all the bumps and bruises he took.
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OCTOBER 3
UP has this leg up over defending champ La Salle. Find out what
IS La Salle’s biggest weakness also the University of the Philippines’ biggest strength?
It sure seems like it, all the more with the Fighting Maroons' backcourt delivering the goods so far this UAAP Season 87.
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OCTOBER 2
Red-hot UE downs Ateneo for first time since 2015
THROUGH grit and grind, the Red Warriors are making University of the East great again.
That was evident anew on Wednesday as the Recto crew crawled back from a 10-point deficit to pull off a 69-62 comeback triumph over Ateneo at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Utilizing a nine-man rotation, the boys of coach Jack Santiago gutted it out and earned their fourth straight victory in UAAP Season 87 – their longest win streak since 2013 – to rise to 4-2.
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Cagulangan-less UP overcomes fast-starting UST
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines got the workout it badly needed ahead of its Finals rematch against La Salle this weekend.
And for a time, it looked like University of Santo Tomas posed a legitimate threat to State U's unblemished record this UAAP Season 87.
But in the end, even without floor leader JD Cagulangan, the Fighting Maroons were just too little too much, wiggling away in the fourth quarter to hack out an 81-70 decision on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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OCTOBER 1
As UE builds winning culture, Santiago warns against complacency
IN the midst of its longest win streak in a decade, coach Jack Santiago stressed that University of the East is still a work in progress.
It's a fact that's as clear as day for the mentor even as the Red Warriors enjoy some level of success this UAAP Season 87.
"I consider my boys still young pa rin. Marami pa rin akong mga batang players," he said even after improving to 3-2 last Saturday.
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SEPTEMBER 29
FEU finally gets on the board after Jorick Bautista takes over vs Ateneo
FINALLY, Far Eastern University has unlocked the chamber of secrets to winning.
Determined to earn a much needed breakthrough victory for their first-year head coach, the Tamaraws took their first step back to respectability, repulsing a similarly hard-luck Ateneo team in the first overtime of UAAP Season 87, 66-65, on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And what did they found out? That sometimes, you just got to gut it out until time expires.
Jorick Bautista held the keys to the kingdom for the Morayta crew, unlocking the gates to the win column after six tries. He fired eight of his 18 points in the extra period, none bigger than his fadeaway jumper over Chris Koon to put his side up by six, 63-57, with 34.1 seconds left.
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La Salle runs away from UST in second half to rise to 5-1
LA SALLE is still the standard in UAAP Season 87 and University of Santo Tomas learned it the hard way.
The Green Archers had every answer to all the upstart Growling Tigers’ efforts as they came away with a well-earned 88-67 win on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It’s the kind of game which displayed the wide gap that defending champion La Salle has from much of the field - that includes a UST team knocking on the doors of contention.
Showing immense poise, the Green Archers surged in the fourth quarter, using a 27-point finishing kick which left the rattled Growling Tigers in the dust.
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SEPTEMBER 28
UE stretches streak to three after warding off luckless NU
THE last time University of the East won three straight games, it almost made it to the Final Four.
This time, the current Red Warriors are determined to make it count.
UE repulsed a struggling National University side to earn the 57-51 victory on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena, fanning their hopes of being considered as a legitimate contender this UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament with what is now a three-game winning streak.
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UP fights back from horror 9-31 start to frustrate Adamson
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines just may have reminded everyone how deep it is.
Sleepwalking through the first quarter, the Fighting Maroons quickly flipped the switch in the second period largely thanks to their bench and ultimately, ran away with the 69-57 victory over Adamson on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Terrence Fortea preserved State U's unblemished 5-0 record so far in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, dropping 13 points on a perfect 3-of-3 clip from distance as the Diliman side drew 51 points from their bench mob.
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SEPTEMBER 27
UE seeks to remain red-hot against hard-luck National U
WHEN no one else believed in University of the East, Jack Santiago did.
After losing key players, most especially top gun Rey Remogat in the offseason, that belief was already hard to buy in on.
And after a horrid 0-2 start to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the coach did sound like a fool for having grand expectations in this campaign, even daring to say that the Red Warriors could be better from last year.
But it only took one week for UE to turn the page and make believers out of everybody.
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SEPTEMBER 25
Yerro alley-oop the difference for Adamson in defensive battle with NU
JOSHUA Yerro blew the roof off of Smart Araneta Coliseum as his alley-oop at the buzzer lifted Adamson University to a 60-58 victory vs. National University on Wednesday.
It was a picture-perfect connection from the inbounding Jhon Calisay to Yerro with 0.3 seconds left to wake up the sparse crowd inside the Big Dome and more importantly, continue to unfurl the Soaring Falcons' bag of surprises this UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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La Salle returns to winning ways after repulsing FEU
LA Salle just could not fall into the same traps for two games in a row.
Learning from their mistakes after tasting defeat for the first time this season, the Green Archers cleaned up their act and gutted out a 68-62 victory over Far Eastern University on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kevin Quiambao willed his team to the bounce back with his near-triple-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, but this time, Michael Phillips helped him secure the win down the stretch.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 24
La Salle out to avoid familiar pitfalls when it takes on FEU
EVEN the best fall down sometimes.
La Salle found it the hard way when the defending champions, expected to run through University of the East, got dealt with its first loss of the season.
But rather than dwell on the stunning 75-71 defeat on Sunday, coach Topex Robinson believes that these humbling losses are just gonna make the Green Archers a better, if not hungrier team.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 22
BOMBA! UE pulls off shocker against defending champion La Salle
BEATING mighty La Salle necessitates one to play its A-game for the whole 40 minutes.
University of the East did just that.
The Red Warriors pulled off the seemingly improbable, stunning the Green Archers, 75-71, to inflict the first blemish to the defending champions in their title retention bid this UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
It’s a shocking outcome for the Recto side, which caught fire from deep as they shot 12-of-30 from distance, earning them back-to-back victories after shocking the 6,946 present inside the Mall of Asia Arena.
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UP rising to 4-0 after running roughshod over FEU
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines is exactly the kind of program Far Eastern University aspires to be.
Built with a core which has been familiar with each other since high school before adding a few pieces here and there, and guided by an elite tactician, the Tamaraws are indeed following the blueprint that made the Fighting Maroons the contender that they are now.
But on Sunday, all FEU can do is dream with UP rampaging all the way to a 69-58 decision in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
All State U needed was a quarter to blow away the competition, using a 20-7 second period to erect a 39-22 halftime lead and never look back.
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SEPTEMBER 21
UE, FEU determined to give good fight to league-leading La Salle, UP
AS expected, La Salle and the University of the Philippines have separated themselves from the pack.
Undefeated so far in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, both the Green Archers and Fighting Maroons have performed up to par as they have matched the lofty expectations of being the top two teams.
In doing so, they have certainly put the league on notice.
That’s why it’s just fair that for those looking to put a dent in their armor, the mere idea of staying in step should already be considered a small victory.
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Chris Koon return energizes Ateneo entry into UAAP Season 87 win column
CHRIS Koon couldn’t have returned at a better time for Ateneo, helping the struggling squad finally break through in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
In danger of falling to an unheard of 0-4 hole, the Blue Eagles gutted out a 60-51 escape from Adamson for win No. 1 on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Koon picked up eight points and four rebounds in his comeback after missing the last two games due to a sprained ankle to finally end the Katipunan side’s three-game losing skid to start the season.
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'Never Say Die' UST piles onto NU's woes in UAAP Season 87
WINNING culture has always been the prime focus for coach Pido Jarencio in his second tour of duty in Espana.
And now, that foundation is slowly but surely being built.
That was very much evident after University of Santo Tomas earned a gutsy 67-64 triumph over National University on Saturday inside Araneta Coliseum, its biggest catch to date in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
Forthsky Padrigao, the veteran that he is, took the biggest shots for the Growling Tigers, draining a huge top of the key jumper before sealing the victory with a split from the free throw line.
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SEPTEMBER 20
Nash Racela warns Adamson against complacency after promising start
HONESTLY speaking, Adamson did not expect to be in this position.
Winning two of their first three games, the Soaring Falcons have been the biggest surprise of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
But coach Nash Racela admitted that this isn't new for this team, that from their buildup to their games, this team just keeps on surprising him.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 18
UP detonates for 53 first half points in demolition of National U
AS if the University of the Philippines still needed affirmation on how strong it is this UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, it delivered another massive statement at the expense of a familiar rival.
National University hardly looked like a contender on Wednesday, as the Fighting Maroons wasted no time delivering haymaker after haymaker to take the fight out of the Bulldogs early en route to a definitive 89-62 beatdown at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
So commanding was State U’s early onslaught that it made people forget that this was actually supposed to be a close game considering this is a battle between Final Four teams a year ago.
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Clutch Ethan Galang shoots UE over FEU, into UAAP Season 87 win column
ETHAN Galang showed no respect to the Far Eastern University defense, knocking down two crucial treys in the final 80 seconds to help University of the East earn a 56-51 breakthrough victory on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Without anything happening for the Red Warriors, the second-year gunner knocked down back-to-back treys from the left wing, the last being the go-ahead basket that pushed the Recto crew ahead by three, 54-51, with 25 seconds left.
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SEPTEMBER 17
Jeff Napa trusts all-Filipino NU's defense to pull through vs. UP
NATIONAL University had grand plans of shattering the narrative that the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament is just a two-team horserace.
But after a heartbreaking defeat to La Salle, a near-upset to Far Eastern University, and the loss of Malian center Mo Diassana to an ACL injury, the Bulldogs might be rethinking their position in the totem pole.
Coach Jeff Napa, however, remains optimistic and is looking forward to meeting the new challenge with strength and determination.
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SEPTEMBER 15
La Salle runs away from Ateneo in second half to remain perfect
FOR the first 20 minutes, it looked like the rivalry game everybody was hyped up for.
Then came halftime.
La Salle broke loose from Ateneo in the third quarter, turning what was initially a close contest to a 74-61 blowout Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Adamson silences UST's growling start to UAAP Season 87
ADAMSON, indeed, continues to have more than a few surprises up its sleeve.
Relying on their swift shooting and suffocating defense, the Soaring Falcons humbled University of Santo Tomas, 69-56, and sent the Growling Tigers crashing back to earth on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
It's a big bounce back for Adamson coming off a 30-point loss to La Salle three days ago, as it tied UST at 2-1 in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball standings.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 14
Mason Amos the center of attention as La Salle rekindles rivalry with Ateneo
COACH Topex Robinson finds amusement that the most magnified person ahead of the rivalry game between La Salle and Ateneo won’t even be someone playing on the court.
“That will be something that people will talk about and make the news,” he said.
Mason Amos, the most high-profile transfer from Katipunan to Taft, won’t even be in uniform and rather will be cheering his new team from the sidelines, as the Green Archers shoot for win No. 3 against the Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
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UP imposes will on UE for back-to-back wins
FINALLY, the real University of the Philippines showed up on Saturday.
Brandishing the dominant form many expected them to have, the Fighting Maroons pulled out an 81-71 victory vs. University of the East in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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NU storms back, stands strong against FEU for win No. 1
NATIONAL University is still dreaming to be seen as a legitimate contender this UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
But its performance on Saturday inside Araneta Coliseum, where it needed a late push to upend Far Eastern University, 62-60, was anything but legitimate contender-like.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs did just enough to pull off the comeback, going on a 15-0 run in the final frame to flip the script and recover from a 57-44 hole en route to its first victory after the hearbreaker against La Salle almost a week ago.
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SEPTEMBER 13
Gani Stevens ready for UE jeers, but more focused on giving UP reason to cheer
GANI Stevens heard the boos, first on Francis Lopez from the Ateneo crowd and later on, Jared Bahay from the University of the Philippines side.
Now that he’s the one facing the ghosts of his past, he’s expecting a little bit more mellow reaction.
“I’m fine. I think the UE crowd’s loving and I don’t think I’m gonna get as much hate as they got, but I’m ready whether they boo me or not,” said Stevens as UP takes on University of the East on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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SEPTEMBER 11
UST finishes strong, shoots down Ateneo for second straight win
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas has never won against Ateneo since Tab Baldwin took over in Katipunan.
Until Wednesday.
And the Growling Tigers needed someone who played under Baldwin to pull off the feat as Forthsky Padrigao somewhat exorcised the demons of his past to guide his new home to a 74-64 victory over the Blue Eagles.
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Kevin Quiambao, La Salle too hot to handle for Adamson
KEVIN Quiambao didn’t need to be the superhuman that he is on Wednesday. He just needed to be plain old KQ.
With the reigning Season and Finals MVP driving the wheel as per usual, defending champion La Salle coasted to a 82-52 domination of Adamson for its second win in as many games in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Quiambao’s exceptional play buoyed the Taft side to a blazing 20-6 first quarter start before ending with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 10
Padrigao up for the challenge when he faces old squad Ateneo
FORTHSKY Padrigao saw Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin watching from the sidelines on Sunday and immediately knew that University of Santo Tomas will have its hands full come next game.
"Nagkatinginan na kami," he said, bracing for the tough assignment that he'll have once the Growling Tigers and the Blue Eagles cross paths on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Padrigao knows how tough Baldwin-coached squads are. After all, he was on the blue side before and even finished as the MVP runner-up two seasons ago before transferring to Espana.
That's why he's already anticipating Baldwin to devise a plan to negate his impact for the Growling Tigers as they shoot for their second straight win in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
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SEPTEMBER 8
Quiambao wills La Salle past NU's tough test to start UAAP Season 87
IT'S still Kevin Quiambao's world and we're all just living in it.
The reigning Season and Finals MVP saved La Salle from the jaws of defeat, delivering a 78-75 escape from National University to begin their title retention bid on a high.
Quiambao drilled the go-ahead trey from the left wing with 9.8 seconds left that broke a 75-all deadlock and ultimately punctuated the Green Archers' telling 14-4 finishing kick Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Adamson gives Sean Chambers a rude reception to UAAP Season 87
DESPITE the gloomy preseason projections thrown its way, Adamson can now boast of a win under its belt.
Banking on their experience, the Soaring Falcons got the better of very green Far Eastern University, 59-47, in a terrible shooting night for both teams to earn their first victory in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
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Cabanero, UST send statement with convincing victory vs. UE
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio has long awaited for this day to come.
And in the Growling Tigers' UAAP Season 87 debut, the boys from Espana indeed lived up to his expectations.
The new look UST side delivered a methodical 70-55 takedown of University of the East on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum for a strong start in the men's basketball tournament.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 7
KQ totally focused on La Salle repeat amid speculations on future
KEVIN Quiambao knows that there’s a lot of speculation on what he plans to do next.
But he stressed that his main attention is on Taft as he wants to be a back-to-back champion with La Salle and not on his future – at least, not yet.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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UP routs Ateneo for rousing start to UAAP Season 87
IT wasn’t the blowout it anticipated, but the University of the Philippines still took care of business, blasting Ateneo, 77-61, to start its UAAP Season 87 men's basketball campaign on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
JD Cagulangan, the hero of the Fighting Maroons’ last championship run, nailed a long two that stopped the Blue Eagles’ late rally after the boys of coach Tab Baldwin trimmed the lead back to eight inside the last five minutes.
Francis Lopez then took the season hosts home, as he strung together five straight points, punctuated by a thunderous tomahawk slam to make it a 69-54 affair with 4:03 to go.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Eraserheads reunion proves UAAP 'Stronger. Better. Together.' in Season 87
MINSAN sa may Kalayaan, minsan sa Araneta rin.
Iconic Filipino band Eraserheads delivered an opening ceremony to remember, ushering in the brand new UAAP Season 87 with a rocking performance to raise the curtains to a fresh athletic year on Saturday at the Big Dome.
It was the first time Eraserheads played at the Araneta Coliseum.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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SEPTEMBER 6
'Underdog' Ateneo the first obstacle in UP's UAAP 87 title quest
WILL the third time be the charm?
After finishing as bridesmaid in the past two seasons, the University of the Philippines begins its quest for another title run on Saturday as it raises the curtain to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde understands the immense pressure being placed on his boys to win the cup anew – one that it last lifted when the league was still in a bubble setup back in mid-2022.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS
Again, Green Archers take aim at title
TOPEX Robinson is self-aware enough to know that whenever he speaks, he tends to be repetitive.
After all, teaching and focusing on “the process” is something that he’s keen on talking about - again and again.
But though some might feel that he’s already sounding like a broken record, he really wouldn’t have it any other way.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Maroons see silver as just another step away from gold
MANY may regard the University of the Philippines’ runner-up finishes in back-to-back seasons as setbacks, and to an extent, coach Goldwin Monteverde agrees.
But it’s not because those past campaigns were deemed as failures. To him, it’s proof that as strong as the Fighting Maroons are, there are still things they can improve on.
That mentality is what Monteverde is keeping in the lead-up to UAAP Season 87 where State U seeks to bring home the crown in a year where it serves as hosts.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Bulldogs believe they're now barking up the right tree
FOR the past few seasons, National University has always been one of the consistently good teams in the UAAP.
But as they’ve found out over the past couple of years, being consistently good isn’t good enough - especially if the Bulldogs have title aspirations on their minds.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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A chance is all the Blue Eagles need
IN only a short period of time, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin has seen his team grow from whipping boys of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup to a squad that has the potential to shock basketball fans who've conveniently written them off even before UAAP Season 87 begins.
But Baldwin isn’t about to hinge the Blue Eagles' future on potential alone.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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There's a ray of hope after Rey's exit from Red Warriors
BELIEVE it or not, Jack Santiago feels that UE is bound for bigger things in the oncoming UAAP Season 87.
It may not be a popular opinion, but Santiago is adamant that the power vacuum left by Rey Remogat’s departure actually prompted those left behind to step up and play to their full potential.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Falcons going from soaring to surprising
NASH Racela knows that not many expect Adamson to make a deep run this UAAP Season 87.
Heck, he knows that a lot of pundits project them to be near the bottom - if not dead last - this year.
And to a degree, he concurs. After all, it hasn’t been the easiest of buildups in San Marcelino.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Tamaraws and triangle do sound nice together
THE triangle may very well be the new favorite shape of FEU.
With Sean Chambers now at the helm, the vaunted offensive scheme popularized by Phil Jackson and preached to this day by Tim Cone will be run by the Tamaraws starting UAAP Season 87.
And that new coach and new strategy are what Morayta is banking on to lift the green and gold from a 8-20 standing in the past two seasons - far from the desired result of the league's winningest team in terms of men's basketball.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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Get ready to cheer on your Tigers again, Thomasians
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas called on its most recent champion coach to turn the tide back in their favor.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen at all in UAAP Season 86, as the Growling Tigers went 2-12 in Pido Jarencio's first year back as shot-caller.
That means that in the last three seasons, the black and gold only has six wins to show out of 42 games.
The big wave is on the horizon, however. In fact, it's coming in Season 87.
READ FULL STORY HERE
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