UP, La Salle are still the teams to beat in UAAP 88 basketball

IT’S University of the Philippines (UP), De La Salle University (DLSU) and everybody else.

That remains the consensus among the eight squads with the UP Fighting Maroons and the DLSU Green Archers still atop of the food chain when they rumble in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament this Saturday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

“If you look at the preseason, it’s still La Salle and UP,” declared coach Tab Baldwin during the league’s press launch on Monday at the Gloria Maris in Greenhills with National University (NU) and host UST as dark horses.

UP and La Salle have been the protagonists of the last two UAAP finals, splitting the Season 86 in favor of the Green Archers and the Season 87 for the Fighting Maroons.

Amidst the changes with the departure of their key cogs and arrival of new prospects, a trilogy could be on the horizon for Diliman and Taft whether it’s from the point of view of a grizzled coach like Mr. Baldwin and a debuting collegiate mentor.

“You can’t say contenders without mentioning UP and La Salle, obviously. They’re the standard right now in the UAAP,” said former PBA coach Chris Gavina, who will now steer the ship for the rejigged University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in lieu of Jack Santiago.

UP, a finalist in four straight years, last season escaped with a 66-62 Game 3 win over La Salle to reclaim the championship it lost to the same squad in 2023 — with Finals MVP JD Cagulangan, anchor Quentin Millora-Brown and high-flyer Francis Lopez leading the way.

All three squads had departed Diliman to go pro in different parts of the world, leaving newcomer Rey Remogat from UE after serving his residency to lead a still potent championship core of Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Jacob Bayla, Terrence Fortea and Reyland Torres.

Without their veterans, UP still completed a first-ever three-peat in the Filoil Pre-season Cup and won the Marty Cup 2025 Battle of Champions in Tacloban, Leyte.

La Salle also lost two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao with his pro transition in Korea but will welcome more blue-chip recruits in Mason Amos from Ateneo de Manila University, Kean Baclaan from NU, Jacob Cortez from San Beda University and Luis Pablo from UP for a lethal core to reinforce team captain Mike Phillips after their one-year residencies.

UP and La Salle also had productive campaigns abroad, including stints in the World University Basketball Series in Japan, hoping it would be sufficient to arrange a third straight titular showdown.

“We lost a lot of players but the goal remains the same for us. We have a couple of new faces and hopefully, it’s going to be enough for that ultimate goal,” vowed lead deputy Christian Luanzon on behalf of UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The centerpiece men’s basketball tournament led by new UAAP commissioner Jai Reyes, a former Ateneo player, will open this weekend featuring UP and host UST as the main event after the grand opening at the UST campus this Friday.

UP begins its title defense against Santo Tomas’ hometurf at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday after the duel between NU and UE at 2 p.m. Formally opening the games are Far Eastern University against Ateneo at 2 p.m. and La Salle against Adamson at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“To the entire UAAP community, we are ready to give our all and let out the loudest roar this season,” said UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP as Santo Tomas braces for an opener like no other. “We are champions of one enduring flame. Mabuhay ang UAAP. Mabuhay ang UST. Let’s get started the UAAP Season 88.”

Rain or Shine, UST Grandstand and Open Field with an expected attendance of up to 30,000 fans will serve as the venue of the UAAP opening ceremony, where the school will extend its tradition of “Welcome Walk” for all student-athletes from member schools.

A mass in celebration of the Jubilee Hope Year, ceremony proper and a finale concert like its annual Paskuhan will comprise the opener with Santo Tomas Tomas launching the season’s theme and official song named “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action” written by assistant professor Louell Baldoza of UST Institute of Religion and interpreted by Santo Tomas alumnus, OPM singer-songwriter and Callalily band frontman Kean Cipriano.

To declare the games open is the lighting of the cauldron then a drone and fireworks display after the finale concert. — John Bryan Ulanday