UAAP: La Salle reclaims title from UP to cap trilogy

One tough team in Taft.

De La Salle University reclaimed the UAAP men’s basketball crown in Season 88 after defeating the University of the Philippines, 80-72, in Game 3 of the Finals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Despite a season marked by adversity—including injuries to key players Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan—the Green Archers stayed alive after crucial second-round wins over UP and Ateneo de Manila University. La Salle then erased a twice-to-beat disadvantage against National University in the Final Four before beating UP for the second time in three Finals matchups to emerge on top of the UAAP once again.

In Game 1 of the Finals, Jacob Cortez delivered in the clutch, drilling the triple that sealed the victory for La Salle. UP answered in Game 2 behind Gerry Abadiano, who sparked a late rally to force a deciding game.

The championship marks La Salle’s 11th UAAP title since joining the league in 1986, adding to its crowns in 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2013, 2016, and 2023.

The last two seasons saw the same two schools battle it out in the finals with the Green Archers winning the crown in Season 86 and the Fighting Maroons taking it in Season 87.

READ MORE | UP vs La Salle: Revisiting their last two UAAP Finals battles

—JMB, GMA Integrated News