Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8:30 a.m. – FEU-D vs UST (16U)
10:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Women)
1:30 p.m. – NU vs DLSU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men)
TOP-RANKED National University and defending champion University of the Philippines face tough battles despite twice-to-beat advantages against De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas, respectively, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today (Wednesday).
The Bulldogs may have defeated the Green Archers in the eliminations, but the Final Four is a different stage—everything resets at 1:30 p.m.
Back in the Final Four after missing out last year, NU head coach Jeff Napa knows the twice-to-beat edge is a reward for finishing in the top two, not a guarantee of a Finals berth.
“Hindi naman namin iniisip kung ano na-aachieve namin ngayon ‘eh. Ang importante kasi namin ay yung performance pa rin namin at the highest level. Bonus kung ano yung na-achieve namin ngayon, pero kung hindi kami maglalaro at our level na gusto namin, balewala ‘yan,” said Napa.
“Natutunan ko na rin nung time na ‘yon na nagkaroon ng twice-to-beat, tapos nabalewala yung lintik na twice-to-beat na ‘yon if I recall. So there’s no assurance and there’s no guarantee kahit may twice-to-beat ka na makakaabot ka sa Finals or sa championship,” Napa added, recalling NU’s loss to the Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 76 Final Four despite being the No. 1 team.
“Ang importante sa amin is how we perform pa rin, how we approach the game pa rin, and how we level up our game pa rin. ‘Yon yung pinaka-important sa amin. Kung magawa ‘man namin talaga iyon, ibibigay talaga sa amin ng basketball gods kung ano yung para sa amin talaga.”
NU aims to secure its first Finals appearance since ending a 60-year championship drought in Season 75 (2014) when they take on De La Salle at 1:30 p.m.
The Green Archers, the last team to qualify for the Final Four, acknowledged their underdog status.
“Well, they’re, I think, the only team that beat us twice, you know, in the regular season so, they’re really gonna come in confident. You know, they’ve really been a solid team. They’ve matured. You know, they have a great leader in Jake Figueroa. So, again, just like what we always tell it, I mean, we’re just gonna keep on battling and grinding. You know, we’re just happy to be here,” said De La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“You know, everybody counted us out when we lost a lot of players. So, we’re just gonna keep on trusting each other, you know, preparing for what’s gonna be in front of us. So, just enjoying the moment as well,” he added.
The Green Archers are now at full strength, but Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan’s fitness for this crucial stage remains uncertain after MCL injuries midway through the season. Amos suited up in the last two elimination games but played limited minutes, while Baclaan, who was in uniform but did not play against Ateneo last week, is expected to return in the Final Four. EJ Gollena, meanwhile, is back from a one-game suspension.
NU is complete with Gelo Santiago returning from a five-game ban—a welcome boost for Napa, who wants all his players ready.
After securing a seventh consecutive Final Four berth—the longest active streak in the league—the Fighting Maroons aim for a fifth straight Finals appearance in the 4:30 p.m. main game.
Rising from a shock 0-2 start, UP is one win away from defending its crown, facing UST in a rematch of last season’s Final Four.
Noy Remogat, making his Final Four debut, remains cautious despite defeating the Growling Tigers twice in the eliminations.
“Excited ako, pero at the same time, gusto ko i-focus yung sarili ko sa game. Minsan kasi yung excitement, pwede ka dalhin sa kapahamakan. Kaya kailangan mag-focus pa rin kasi pag nag-focus ka, dadalhin ka nito sa maganda ‘eh. Susulitin ko lang yung moment talaga,” Remogat said.
A Finals berth would also give UP super seniors Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano another chance at a title, ending their collegiate careers as winners.
UST, last year’s third-place finishers, hopes to extend Nic Cabañero and Fortsky Padrigao’s seasons with a strong showing. The Growling Tigers had a roller-coaster elimination round and cannot afford mistakes if they want to force a decider against UP.
In the collegiate women’s division, titleholder NU and Ateneo battle for the right to face undefeated UST in a best-of-three Finals at 10:30 a.m.
The Blue Eagles, who last reached the championship round in UAAP Season 78 (2015), remain optimistic about finally toppling the Lady Bulldogs, who are gunning for their 10th consecutive Finals appearance.
“I fancy [our chance against NU] very well. I really think that we have a good chance. The second game that we played against them, Sarah [Makanjoula] was not with us because she was suspended. [In the first round,] we almost beat them but we just collapsed because they have more experience,” said Ateneo head coach LA Mumar.
A victory would not only give reigning two-time MVP Kacey dela Rosa her first Finals appearance but also prevent a potential Lady Bulldogs–Lady Tigresses trilogy.
“Of course, salute to the NU program. Sila ni UST have been the standard here, pero syempre we want to kind of join the party naman. And hopefully, I think we can say na we can beat them. It’s gonna take a lot of work, but I think we have the materials to beat them. I am not shying away, I’m not going to say na pa-underdog kami, I am not gonna do that. I have to be the first one to believe that we can beat that powerhouse and I know the girls will follow. We have a good chance of beating them,” Mumar added.
In Junior High School Boys’ action, UST and FEU-Diliman go all out to face unbeaten NU–Nazareth School in the best-of-three championship at 8:30 a.m.
All games will air live on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
