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HumbleBola’s Best 25 Players Under 25
By: Francis De Ungria
Philippine basketball has had a ton of young talent come through in recent years. It is only fitting that we take an in-depth look at the young buds, some of whom are plying their trade overseas, while others opting to grow their roots on Philippine soil.
The list will rank Filipino basketball players who are under 25 years old and are currently playing in any professional or amateur league. While stats and accolades received throughout the year are considered, the list will more look to answer how well can a player contribute winning to a professional team in the near future and to what level of professional basketball they could possibly reach. Another factor considered is what they can contribute to the national team.
All players born in the year 1999 and later who have played in the PBA, UAAP and NCAA are automatically eligible for the list. Players playing in international leagues will only be eligible for the list if they can play for the national team without naturalization. So this means notable overage players like Evan Nelle and Dwight Ramos as well as former UAAP player Ange Kouame will not be included in the list.
*Stats are gathered as of December 29, 2023
*Heights are estimated from various sources
Honorable Mentions:
LJ Gonzales
Adrian Nocum
Jomel Puno
25. Gian Mamuyac
Height: 6’2
Age: 24
Team: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (PBA)
Stats:
2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup: 10.3 pts, 2.9 ast, 1.1 stl, 22.2 min
2023 PBA Governors’ Cup: 10.0 pts, 1.8 ast, 0.7 stl, 19.7 min
2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup: 8.1 pts, 2.1 ast, 0.7 stl, 17.1 min
Gian Mamuyac has settled into becoming a rotation player for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters the past three conferences. As a two-way guard, Gian Mamuyac has always been a premium on defense, although his scoring averages dipped throughout the year, he is still a solid catch and shoot player who can space the floor and create his own opportunities when given the chance.
24. Miguel Oczon
Height: 6’0
Age: 24
Team: Ulsan Hyundai (KBL)
Stats:
NCAA Season 99: 13.4 pts, 4.8 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.2 stl, 0.5 blk, 31.2 % 3P (6.7 3PA)
The Benilde sharpshooter has upped his scoring production in his final NCAA season. Although they failed to reach the finals again, he still led Benilde to a third-place finish. The 6’0 guard is one of the better shooters in the country and should instantly improve a team’s spacing at the professional level. But at his height in Korea, he will be forced to play the point. Will he step up and also carry some facilitating load on offense?
23. Cedrick Manzano
Height: 6’7
Age: 20
Team: Adamson Soaring Falcons (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 8.1 pts, 6.5 reb, 0.7 blk, 19.9 min
Cedrick Manzano has maintained his offensive production in year-three of playing in the UAAP. While some of his stats have regressed, he is still one of the best bigs in the UAAP on both ends on the floor as Adamson’s second highest scorer and best rebounder. One of the more interesting aspects of his game is his under-development three-point shooting and playmaking. From zero three-point attempts in Season 85, he has attempted 13 this season and made three of them (23% 3P). He also upped his assist averages from 0.9 per game last season to 1.5 this season.
22. Chris Koon
Height: 6’4
Age: 22
Team: Ateneo Blue Eagles (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 9.6 pts, 5.8 reb, 2.9 ast, 0.7 stl, 27.1 min
Chris Koon has ramped up his production this season as one of the veterans for Ateneo. While his shooting efficiency leaves a lot to be desired (50.5% true shooting to 42.7%), he is still an elite two-way wing in the UAAP. Although he is being regularly deployed as a wing, he is a versatile defender who can comfortably defend most guards and forwards in the UAAP. As he plays out his final playing year next season, international teams should definitely watch out for his development. It also helps that with his height, he has the guard skills to convert into a guard in the near future.
21. Kean Baclaan
Height: 5’7
Age: 20
Team: NU Bulldogs (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 10.6 pts, 4.4 reb, 4.7 ast, 0.9 stl, 24.8 min
With an increase in offensive responsibility, Kean Baclaan has not shied away as he upped his scoring from 8.4 per game to 10.6 while also improving his true shooting from 38.8% last season to 42.0% this season. While his three-point shooting is still an area of concern, there is no doubt that the 20-year old guard’s offensive impact can rival that of the other top point guards in the UAAP. One thing to note that might hinder him in the professional level is his height which makes him a liability on defense. But if there is one thing to learn from SJ Belangel and RJ Abarrientos who are having a productive career in Japan and Korea, you have to be a great passer and a crazy good shooter. Kean is the former, but not yet the latter.
20. Clint Escamis
Height: 5’11
Age: 22
Team: Mapua Cardinals (NCAA)
Stats:
NCAA Season 99: 16.4 pts, 6.0 reb, 4.1 ast, 3.4 stl
Accolades:
NCAA Season 99 MVP
NCAA Season 99 Rookie of the Year
NCAA Season 99 Mythical Five
NCAA Season 99 All-Defensive Team
NCAA Season 99 Steals Leader
The NCAA Rookie-MVP led Mapua to the finals after losing to Letran in Season 97. Despite the finals loss to San Beda, Escamis has proven that he is right there on the top of the discussion as one of the best collegiate guards in the Philippines. The next question for him right now is if he can replicate this production next season especially with tougher competition in the NCAA, if he does, then international basketball will be a realistic option for him sooner than later.
19. Will Gozum
Height: 6’5
Age: 24
Team: Benilde Blazers (NCAA)
Stats:
NCAA Season 99: 12.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 0.5 stl, 1.2 blk
The 6’5 big had another productive season leading Benilde to a third-place finish. Will Gozum will be an interesting case once he moves up to the pros. He is an undersized big but has the agility and shooting that can serve him well as a PF. But he doesn’t have enough agility and shooting to make him a full-time forward internationally. That’s why for now, his realistic ceiling might be a future PBA star. But if he continues his rapid development as a forward, then he might elevate his status as a possible national team prospect and match the likes of Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and Mason Amos.
18. Justin Arana
Height: 6’7
Age: 24
Team: Converge FiberXers (PBA)
Stats:
2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup: 11.0 pts, 7.7 reb, 1.4 blk, 24.9 min
2023 PBA Governors’ Cup: 10.3 pts, 6.9 reb, 1.1 blk, 26.0 min
2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup: 13.0 pts, 6.1 reb, 0.7 blk, 22.6 min
Accolades:
2023 PBA Rookie of the Year
2023 PBA All-Rookie Team
Justin Arana has cemented himself as part of the Converge FiberXers core after just three conferences. He has stepped up from averaging 11 points in his first conference to now 13 points per game. But we had him this low in the ranking because he might be the player here who has already reached his peaked. He still has a lot of areas that he can improve upon but in terms of his ceiling, he might be a PBA star at best, which is still not bad.
17. Jake Figueroa
Height: 6’3
Age: 20
Team: NU Bulldogs (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 12.1 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.5 stl, 0.5 blk, 28.8 min
Jake Figueroa has transformed into one of the best wings in the UAAP. What is impressive is that he started out as an undersized PF during his high school days, but has steadily improved his shooting over the years (shot 13.0% from three last season to 30.0% this season). At age 20, he is already a borderline UAAP superstar and I would not be surprised if he takes another leap, catching the attention of international teams sooner than later.
16. CJ Cansino
Height: 6’3
Age: 24
Team: UP Fighting Maroons (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 12.5 pts, 3.1 reb, 0.7 stl, 0.5 blk, 37.0% 3P (5.6 3PA), 19.3 min
CJ Cansino had a solid final playing year in the UAAP. His development has been interesting as he started as a forward who is an excellent downhill finisher and has developed into a well-rounded wing who can score on three levels. With his current style of play, he should be able to play as a wing in the PBA with the makings of a star. But in terms of his ceiling, he is a player capable of playing internationally, but this will depend on if consistently make his three-point shots and how he can elevate his guard skills enough to be a capable guard at that level.
15. Jacob Cortez
Height: 5’10
Age: 21
Team: San Beda Red Lions (NCAA)
Stats:
NCAA Season 99: 15.2 pts, 3.7 reb, 3.6 ast, 1.2 stl, 31.5% 3P (6.7 3PA)
Accolades:
NCAA Season 99 Champion
If you haven’t seen him play, you’re missing out. Jacob Cortez is without a doubt the best point guard in the NCAA this season and should be right there in the discussion of elite PGs in college basketball. Cortez is a crazy good scorer, but what separates him from most guards in the Philippines is how well he can navigate through traffic and dissect whatever defensive coverages teams throw at him. The player he is right now could make an impact on an international team, but his possible move to the UAAP may serve him well and may raise his stock as he goes against taller and more athletic defenses.
14. Dave Ildefonso
Height: 6’2
Age: 23
Team: Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL)
Stats:
2022-23 KBL: 5.1 pts, 29.5% 3P (2.1 3PA), 16.6 min
2023-24 KBL: 4.4 pts, 35.6% 3P (2.0 3PA), 10.1 min
Dave Ildefonso has had a subpar performance so far in his KBL career. One positive note though is his improvement in three-point shooting from 29.5% last season to 35.6% so far this season. But with how he played in the UAAP and Batang Gilas in the past, he still remains as one of the elite wings in the Philippines. In his second season in the KBL, he needs to take a leap sooner than later if he wants to continue his international career.
13. Rey Remogat
Height: 5’10
Age: 20
Team: UE Red Warriors (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 16.5 pts, 6.4 reb, 7.9 ast, 2.0 stl, 0.6 blk, 36.6% 3P (7.2 3PA), 34.5 min
Accolades:
UAAP Season 86 Mythical Five
UAAP Season 86 Assists Leader
The UAAP assist leader and 3rd highest scorer continued his stellar performance from last season and has since elevated himself into the discussion of the best point guards in college basketball. What makes Remogat impressive is how consistent he is shooting the three-pointer despite the high volume and difficulty of his shots. The question now for him is if he can replicate this type of production next season knowing that teams have a full offseason to scheme for him. If he can, then he might be heading to Korea and Japan soon.
12. Nic Cabañero
Height: 6’3
Age: 20
Team: UST Growling Tigers (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 16.8 pts, 6.4 reb, 2.4 ast, 1.1 stl, 32.7 min
Accolades:
UAAP Season 86 Scoring Leader
The 6’3 guard has again led all players in scoring in the UAAP. While his scoring efficiency dropped (true shooting went from 45.9% last season to 43.0% this season), he improved in taking care of the ball (3.5 turnovers per game last season to 2.7 this season) while still maintaining a similar number of assists per game. While he may not be as good a shooter (25.37% from three) and the playmaking chops might still be a bit lacking, he should still provide good value as a combo guard when he decides to play overseas as a tall guard. But Nic, at just 20, still has a lot of time to improve his shooting and polish his decision making and guard skills. His ceiling should be a national team prospect and a good player at the international level.
11. Juan Gomez De Liaño
Height: 6’1
Age: 24
Team: Seoul SK Knights (UAAP)
Stats:
2022-23 Lithuania LKL: 3.0 pts, 5.2 min
2023-24 KBL: 5.3 pts, 36.8% 3P (1.7 3PA), 11.1 min
The journeyman has had some ups and downs in his international career so far, but make no mistake, he is still one of the elite guards in the country. His athleticism is rare for a player his size in the Philippines and based on his UAAP career, he should still be one of the best shooters in the country. While his minutes are still sparse in the KBL, he should get better as what the eye test suggests. The player as he is now should be a national team prospect, but with more reps internationally, he might reach Abarrientos and Belangel’s level.
10. Kai Ballungay
Height: 6’7
Age: 21
Team: Ateneo Blue Eagles (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 11.6 pts, 8.0 reb, 2.3 ast, 0.8 stl, 26.5 min
Kai Ballungay had a productive year in his final season as he increased his scoring from 10.3 points per game last season to 11.6 this season. There are worrying signs of efficiency though (true shooting went down from 62.3% last season to 52.3% this season) but he is still an elite forward who can play the three or four positions internationally. If his shooting reverts back to his Season 85 numbers, he should be a shoo-in as an Asian import in overseas leagues.
9. Mason Amos
Height: 6’7
Age: 19
Team: Ateneo Blue Eagles (UAAP)
Stats:
2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: 6.5 pts, 60.0% 3P (2.0 3PA), 6.7 min
UAAP Season 86: 8.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 42.9% 3P (4.2 3PA), 15.8 min
The 19 year old has finally put himself in the radar of the national team with his recent Batang Gilas stint and national team debut during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Despite the limited minutes with Ateneo, Amos still had a decent production where he shot an efficient 42.9% from three on high volume which bodes well as he continues his development in the UAAP. There are areas of his game that got exposed which might explain his limited minutes in his debut season but make no mistake, expect him to take a leap next season with increased opportunities and more responsibility on offense.
8. Michael Phillips
Height: 6’8
Age: 21
Team: De La Salle Green Archers (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 8.5 pts, 8.6 reb, 1.6 stl, 1.0 blk, 20.2 min
The 6’8 athletic big has been a walking mismatch ever since he stepped foot on the UAAP court. You put a stronger big on him? He can blow by them with his agility. You put a quicker big on him? He can bully them with his strength and elevate with his explosiveness. He should be able to play at an import-like level in the PBA, but with his potential, he could go on to be a star at the international level. Although at 6’8, he is a bit undersized as a big and doesn’t have enough skills as of now to play at the forward positions in that big a stage. There are still encouraging signs though as he attempted just one three-pointer last season and has increased it to 18 this season, hitting five of them (27.8%). If he does continue to play in the UAAP, expect him to get better with his shot and add more dimension to his game.
7. Francis Lopez
Height: 6’6
Age: 20
Team: UP Fighting Maroons (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 9.0 pts, 6.3 reb, 2.9 ast, 1.3 stl, 0.8 blk, 21.7 min
Accolades:
UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year
Francis “Lebron” Lopez has completed his first full season in the UAAP finishing as the runner-up and notching the Rookie of the Year award. While the numbers may not show it, he proved that he was one of the best forwards in the country as the eye test suggests. He was always known for his athleticism but playing as a four for UP, he had playmaking flashes playing as a trail big at times which made him a mismatch against smaller and slower forwards in the UAAP. There are still concerns with his shooting (50.3% true shooting and 27.5% on three-pointers) but he seems to be on the right path to develop as a good wing player the national team badly needs. His development will be exciting to see with a full offseason to work on.
6. Kevin Quiambao
Height: 6’5
Age: 21
Team: De La Salle Green Archers (UAAP)
Stats:
UAAP Season 86: 16.7 pts, 10.9 reb, 6.0 ast, 2.0 stl, 0.9 blk, 36.0% 3P (6.4 3PA), 28.7 min
Accolades:
UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player
UAAP Season 86 Finals MVP
UAAP Season 86 Mythical Five
The best player in college basketball right now had a very productive season finishing second highest in scoring, third highest in rebounds and third highest in assists in the UAAP. One of the important things to note is how he improved his three-point shooting from 19.2% on 3.6 attempts per game last season to 36.0% on 6.4 attempts per game this season which was a huge increase in both volume and efficiency. A lot of this can be attributed to how he was utilized this season as a trail big and a post hub where the offense went through him in most La Salle possessions. After committing for another season in La Salle despite receiving international offers, it will be interesting to see if he can replicate this type of production with an objectively weaker La Salle team after the departure of their key guards.
5. Carl Tamayo
Height: 6’7
Age: 22
Team: Ryukyu Golden Kings (B-League)
Stats:
2022-23 B-League: 2.5 pts, 1.3 reb, 7.8 min
2023-24 B-League: 3.6 pts, 2.8 reb, 13.3 min
Entering his second season in the Japanese B-League, Carl Tamayo has had an underwhelming stint so far. He had some encouraging signs where he put up 15 points and 5 rebounds in his first game this season but has been downhill since then. Despite the poor production, he is still the best national team prospect by far at the four and has made a leap since he made the move to play overseas basketball. His development as he continues to grind some playing time in Japan will be something to watch out for. We should also expect to see him suit up for the national team more in the near future.
4. SJ Belangel
Height: 5’10
Age: 24
Team: Daegu KOGAS Pegasus (KBL)
Stats:
2022-23 KBL: 7.0 pts, 2.0 ast, 0.8 stl, 27.9% 3P (2.9 3PA), 18.8 min
2023-24 KBL: 13.7 pts, 3.5 ast, 0.9 stl, 40.0% 3P (4.2 3PA), 30.0 min
The 24 year old has finally broken out this KBL season and looks like his best version in year-two in the KBL. With an increase in production in points and assists, he also had an increase in shooting efficiency (27.9% on 2.9 attempts per game to 40.0% on 4.2 attempts per game from three). He should serve as a good example for undersized point guards in the Philippines if they want to be successful in making an impact overseas, a player who can not only shoot the lights out, but also has the IQ to consistently make good reads and find his spots on the floor. A possible starting point guard for Gilas in the near future?
3. RJ Abarrientos
Height: 5’11
Age: 24
Team: Shinshu Brave Warriors (B-League)
Stats:
2022-23 KBL: 13.3 pts, 4.8 ast, 1.3 stl, 34.4% 3P (7.7 3PA), 29.1 min
2023-24 B-League: 9.0 pts, 2.6 ast, 0.7 stl, 36.4% 3P (5.4 3PA), 15.2 min
Accolades:
2023 KBL Rookie of the Year
2023 KBL All-Rookie Team
2023 All-KBL Team Honorable Mention
RJ Abarrientos skyrocketed into Korean basketball stardom quickly in his first season, winning Rookie of the Year honors and was also a candidate for All-KBL teams. After moving to Japan this season, he had a huge decrease in minutes which affected his overall production but his efficiency remained the same. Despite this, he is without a doubt the best point guard in the Philippines under the age of 25 and is a sure candidate for Gilas point guard duties in the next tournaments. Just like his fellow friend SJ Belangel, he is another example for point guards in the Philippines to replicate, but what separates him from most though is how well he makes difficult shots from almost anywhere on the floor (watch some of his highlights and you will know).
2. Kai Sotto
Height: 7’3
Age: 21
Team: Yokohama B-Corsairs (B-League)
Stats:
2022-23 NBL Australia: 6.9 pts 4.5 reb, 0.8 blk, 12.9 min
2022-23 B-League: 8.9 pts, 6.1 reb, 1.3 blk, 19.1 min
2023 FIBA World Cup: 6.0 pts, 4.0 reb, 0.8 blk, 14.2 min
The Filipino wunderkind had a solid year as he went from the NBL to the B-League and then showcased his talent in the 2023 FIBA World Cup where he played solid minutes as a backup center for the national team. While many would have expected more production from him, he is still without a doubt a generational talent in the Philippines and should continue his development as he recovers from recurring injuries that plagued him throughout the year.
1. AJ Edu
Height: 6’10
Age: 23
Team: Toyama Grouses (B-League)
2022-23 NCAA D1: 2.8 pts, 2.9 reb, 0.8 blk, 12.3 min
2023 FIBA World Cup: 8.2 pts, 8.6 reb, 1.2 blk, 29.6 min
2023-24 B-League: 13.1 pts, 8.8 reb, 0.6 blk, 29.2 min
What a difference a year makes for a player’s career trajectory. Before his FIBA World Cup stint his future seemed humble as he was plagued with injuries for most of his developmental years, but after a good run in the FIBA World Cup, he quickly became one of Asia’s rising stars. As of writing, he has been an integral part of the Toyama Grouses core earning huge minutes and is having good production, so far averaging double-digits in scoring and 2nd most rebounds in his team. With the B-League being a tough league to get playing time from our young guns, seeing AJ Edu easing into it in just his first year shows how much talent and potential this player really has, and ranking him number one should be just as fitting.
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Almost should not be Enough for UP anymore
By: Eriko Dela Cruz
The UAAP season has come to a close, with the De La Salle Green Archers coming out on top after seven years of futility.
The UP Fighting Maroons, the other protagonist of the Finals, now stands at a 1-3 win-loss record since they first made it back in 2018. The past two title series, they got swept after winning game 1.
Since 2019, UP has had (arguably) the strongest team on paper. Imagine having a cornucopia of talent thanks to the backing of Nowhere to Go but UP. Imagine having the privilege of going abroad to train prior to the season. Imagine having one of the elite Filipino coaches at the helm – And only one title to show for it. The question now is, where do the UP Fighting Maroons go from here?
UP? They’re already there.
Many fans would say that this has been a successful season given the nightmares of 0-14s past. That is a fair statement, if you look at it through that lens. But is it really fair to look at it that way?
For one, UP has had FOUR finals appearances in the last five seasons. Since then, they have won a championship. A lot has changed since their single-win bonfire. The standards of their fans must be raised, their expectations for their team must be raised, their ambition for their team must be raised because the Fighting Maroons as a basketball program has been raised.
It’s easy to say that this was a successful season. Comforting even. But after all that money, recruitment, training abroad, scouting, only to come close but no cigar, at some point it has to start sounding like copium.
No more yearning to rise up from rock bottom, no more aspiring to be among the teams with winning traditions. UP is up. UP’s winning started yesterday.
In the UAAP, results matter. For programs with winning traditions, it’s always championship or bust, no matter what the talent pool looks like. Tab Baldwin was not exempted from this, Bo Perasol was not exempt from this, Derrick Pumaren, Jermaine Byrd, Pido Jarencio, Bal David, Olsen Racela, any coach who has ever handled a program with a winning tradition was not exempt from this. Every year they didn’t bring the trophy back to their schools was treated as a disappointment. Now UP is a winning program. Now UP is up. It’s time to expect excellence from its team. It’s time to write books about title runs, not runners-up.
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The Largest 3-point Lead
By: Toby Pavon
After missing six shots from the arc, most of them short, Evan Nelle pulled up from two steps behind the arc to unleash a seventh triple for the game. The La Salle Green Archers were down four points with half a quarter left to play when Nelle decided he would risk the three. SWISH!
UP’s lead was down to 1 point.
Before this game, UP had never lost in games where they carried the lead into halftime. In fact just minutes before Nelle’s jumper, it looked like they were going to keep it that way, forcing La Salle’s guards to fumble the ball, forcing MVP Kevin Quiambao to make errant passes, and then converting them to easy points in the paint.
The following play Francis Lopez, the prized recruit of the Maroons, straight out of high school, torn away from the clutches of a professional contract, missed a jumpshot leading to a rebound by Jonnel Policarpio. The ball found its way to the hands of Nelle once again, who dished it to Quiambao inside for his patented floater– SWISH!
La Salle takes the lead.
UP is still in a good place. They’re just down one point, all they need is a basket to get the lead back. They have, after all, done this several times already before. Malick Diouf is already on a roll with 21 points on 10 of 12 shooting from the field!
JD Cagulangan misses a layup, allowing Nelle to collect the rebound and rifle it to Quiambao who misses the layup but gets fouled on the second attempt. To cheers of “M-V-P!” from the green crowd inside Araneta Coliseum, Quiambao kisses his arm and swishes the freethrows, one after another.
La Salle has a 3 point lead.
It’s just one possession. That’s hardly a safe lead, especially with 4:10 left in the game. The UP Fighting Maroons have lots of time to save their season, to reclaim the championship they lost and to climb back to the top of the UAAP mountain. Lots of time to overcome a 3-point lead.
So they went with ‘ol reliable, their captain, CJ Cansino, who earlier had already hit their lone three pointer of the game. Alas, it rimmed out. That’s okay, UP is known for its defense this season. Tight, physical, suffocating. Just get a stop.
And so they do. Policarpio misses a layup which Diouf rebounds and passes it ahead, finding its way to Harold Alarcon who is fouled by Quiambao.
UP takes it out on the sidelines.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
Gerry Abadiano misses the layup. Another missed opportunity to cut down what is, logically, actually a one-possession lead. But with time running down, and options running out, that lead began to feel big, not just to the Maroons on the court, or the coaching staff on the bench, or the tens of thousands of Iskos and Iskas screaming their lungs out in the arena, but to the Lasallians as well.
With each miss by the Green Archers, the green half of Araneta groans in disappointment, while the maroon side cheers with eagerness, hoping that their team can overcome what is just a one-possession deficit.
The UP Fighting Maroons find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They are clearly the more experienced team of the two Finals contenders, with many in their lineup having been to the Finals on multiple occasions, with one championship to show for it. They are also the most talented team assembled, many of whom are prized recruits, one of which almost made it to the professional leagues before even graduating high school.
So there was no reason why UP would struggle to do the very essence of basketball, which was to put the ball in the basket. And so UP hopefuls had every reason to believe that their team had it in them to mount a comeback.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
Yet as each show by the Maroons rims out, or gets blocked, the green side of Araneta explodes with cheers. Cheers normally reserve for going on big runs to close out the game. Cheers normally reserve for pulling away through making big shot after big shot to stretch the lead. No, these were cheers for keeping the lead.
De La Salle on the other hand was a team on a mission. Equally talented and athletic as their Finals opponent, they became the butt of jokes in previous seasons for letting their loaded lineups go to waste, not even making the Final Four. Under a new head coach with a modern outlook on basketball, their fans expected great things from them, and up until reaching the Finals, they have delivered.
Using a combination of their athleticism and size under the guidance of Coach Topex Robinson, and with the services of a superstar MVP in Kevin Quiambao, the Green Archers have shaken off whatever bad reputation clung onto them, and showed that they are a team that can hang on to win, even in the closest of margins.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
The two teams duke it out long after the arena barker cries for the “LAST TWO MINUTES” of the game. Both teams unable to make a basket, just the same, but their crowds with different reactions. Exasperation from the maroon, anticipation from the green. They could feel it, they could feel their team was in control, as though holding on to a double digit lead as the time wound down.
The story of these Finals teams were stories of redemption. UP wanted redemption for their Finals loss against Ateneo. They got it, knocking them out handily in the semi-finals. La Salle wanted redemption from their abysmal campaign last season where they barely missed out on the Final Four. They got it, not only barging into the Final Four, but also back into the Finals.
Both teams want to end their season with the championship, and thus far a single possession separates them from it.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
Ever since losing game 1 by 30 points, De La Salle formulated a game plan that mainly consisted of limiting their turnovers and matching UP’s physicality, especially in transition. This allowed the Topex Robinson-coached team to rout UP in game 2, exposing a blaring weakness in UP’s execution- They couldn’t execute in the half court.
Late in the 3rd and early in the 4th quarter, it looked like UP had already solved their halfcourt execution problems, getting midrange jumpers from Alarcon and Cagulangan to go, and punishing La Salle’s attempts to double the ball handler on pick and rolls by having Diouf slip into the paint where he was nigh unguardable.
But old habits die hard, and in the thick of battle, it’s the true nature of teams that come to rise. Aware of this hole in UP’s execution, DLSU knew their assignment. No transition opportunities for UP, defend in transition and UP will struggle to execute in the halfcourt– and they did.
So with less than a minute left in the game, La Salle was playing keep-away as though they had a comfortable lead.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
Kevin Quiambao who had been excellent all game, throws an errant pass caught by CJ Cansino. Big mistake. DLSU fans gasp, UP fans come to life. This is it, a transition opportunity.
With time running out on the game, and on their season, and their championship aspirations, Cansino threw the forward pass to Harold Alarcon who immediately pulled out to the three point line, set his feet, went up for the shot to tie the game– and missed.
The clock stops as Quiambao grabs the rebound. There’s 7 seconds left. The green side could smell the championship.
It’s just a 3-point lead.
La Salle inbounds the ball amid heavy pressure from the Maroons, it finds its way to Quiambao who is fouled. Another rain of M-V-P chants fills the arena. Quiambao hesitates in kissing his arm before flinging the first freethrow. A miss.
With 5 seconds left in the game, Quiambao goes back to his ritual. He kisses his arm and releases the shot.
It’s now a 4-point lead.
With that freethrow, the air in the arena changed. It was over. But the Maroons were not giving up.
A series of timeouts are called, substitution after substitution made. It was the longest 5-seconds of basketball for both sides. 5-long seconds for UP hopefuls to pray their team can pull of a miracle. 5-long seconds for Lasallians to pray their team holds on.
The Maroons draw up one last play to salvage their season. A season that some have described as “championship or bust”. Off the inbound, Malick Diouf is seen attempting a three pointer from the corner. It misses. Francis Lopez gets the rebound and lays the ball in without much resistance.
It’s now a 2-point lead.
2 seconds were burned from that attempt. The Green Archers make another mistake and give up the ball. Reyland Torres tries to tie the game, he misses. Quiambao gets the round and is sent to the line for the last time.
Two made free throws later, the De La Salle Green Archers are crowned the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Champions. Although the final score shows a close game, on the court, in the arena, La Salle had long pulled away for the win, with a 3-point lead.
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FINALS GAME 3: Breaking the Curse— A UP vs DLSU Edition
BY MARCUS ASINAS
Reading Time: 3 minutes
What’s up with the UP during finals and Araneta Coliseum? Is their signal weak too? Can Coach Topex break his personal championship curse as the two giants square off in a winner-take-all Game 3?
In game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Finals, the UP Fighting Maroons clobbered the DLSU Green Archers. The Fighting Maroons banked on their physical defense, converted turnovers into points which fueled some hot shooting beyond the arc, en route to a UAAP record 30-point win leading many to think they were going to cruise to a second title in three years. This game was played in the Mall of Asia Arena. In game 2 the tables turned when the Green Archers returned the favor against UP in a 22-point. It was raining 3s in Araneta Coliseum when Francis Escandor started a run followed by Joshua David and a late game-sealing three-pointer of CJ Austria.
These UAAP Finals are getting more exciting with neither team giving an inch. It’s an all-or-nothing game on Wednesday as it will be a chess match for coaches but a bloody war for the players with each side reaching for every advantage they can find.
The UP Fighting Maroons will have to break their “Araneta Coliseum curse” if they are to clinch a championship tomorrow night. They are 0-3 in Finals games played in the Big Dome since 2021. The “curse” started in game 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Finals. In the following game, the “curse” continued with UP failing to secure a back-to-back championship against the Koume-led Ateneo Blue Eagles. This season, given the depth of the lineup of the Fighting Maroons, a lot of people expected that they would have swept this series. Yet, the “curse” lived on with UP’s unable to generate offense from halfcourt sets, leading to an abysmal 3-point shooting percentage and several unlucky missed open shots.
Coach Topex Robinson is no stranger to collegiate basketball championships. He bagged the championship trophy as a player when he played for San Sebastian College-Recoletos during the late 90s. It’s quite a different story as a coach, the La Salle tactician is currently 0-2 in the Finals starting from his Lyceum coaching stint. In NCAA season 93, despite having a perfect record of 18-0 during the eliminations, the Perez-led LPU got swept by Bolick’s SBU. In the following season, they again made it to the Finals on to get swept again by the San Beda Red Lions. This season, is already an improvement over his previous Finals stints having already won a Finals game. The job’s not over though.
The big question is will the UP Fighting Maroons finally win their first-ever championship game at the Araneta Coliseum or will Coach Topex end his Finals losing streak since his LPU days? Whether curses are real or not, one of them has got to give.
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Do the Ateneo Blue Eagles still have that extra gear?
By Eriko dela Cruz
“Ateneo has had a rollercoaster of a season.” would be the understatement of the year.
They split their match-ups against the number 1 (UP) and 2 (DLSU) seeds, but got swept by FEU. They led against Adamson by 19 in the first round, only for a once cushy lead to evaporate and get beaten by a “happy birthday” three. From being the deadliest third quarter team in the UAAP the past season, to every Ateneo fan dreading the third quarter this season.
There are many reasons (not excuses) for Ateneo’s 7-7 slate– Youth being one of the biggest factors as three of the starting five from season 85 flew the nest. Another factor was some players joining late into the preseason preparations. Coach Tab Baldwin even mentioned the lack of skills training to give way to playing actual games. Safe to say, expectations were tempered for this season.
As the Blue Eagles lost a heart-stopper against the Green Archers and with the Adamson Soaring Falcons beating a powerhouse NU team and then surviving a nail-biter against the UE Red Warriors, everybody expected a slugfest. After all, that was the trend of the “Battle of the Birds in season 86.
Apparently, no one told Coach Tab and the Blue Eagles that.
Coach Tab stepped on that clutch, and put the bus onto a gear no one expected them to have. The Blue Eagles were running their sets more smoothly, rebounding better, and defending well. Ateneo was also exploiting the mismatches created by pick-and-rolls, something they were not able to do as much in the past. After leading by 14 at the half 40-26, they kept that performance going in the third quarter and eventually the fourth.
This performance by the Blue Eagles begs the question, Is this a sign of things to come for Ateneo, or is this just another up-swing before tumbling back down in the Final Four? Will this be enough to stop a fully prepared and as Coach Tab put it, “too professional” juggernaut UP Fighting Maroons?
The answers will soon be revealed as the Ateneo Blue Eagles face the UP Fighting Maroons in the Final Four this Saturday.
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