UAAP: Maco Dabao looks back on DLSZ’s Final Four run

De La Salle Zobel bowed out of the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament last week, falling to National University Nazareth School, 75–70, in the Final Four as the Bullpups advanced to the finals.

Despite the defeat, the campaign marked DLSZ’s first Final Four appearance since Season 79, ending a near-decade semis drought.

For graduating guard Maco Dabao, however, there were no regrets about how his UAAP high school career concluded.

“The greatest lesson I learned is to enjoy every moment,” Dabao told GMA News Online.

“That game was my last UAAP basketball game for Zobel, and every time you’re given that opportunity, you should give it your all. I’m proud to say that no matter the result, I have zero regrets. I’m happy that I was able to help bring Zobel back to the Final Four.”

Dabao averaged 17.29 points, 5.93 rebounds, 2.21 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, finishing third in the Statistical Points race behind Ateneo’s Jude Eriobu and FEU’s Cabs Cabonilas, who is poised to be named Most Valuable Player.

Dabao turned emotional after the loss as he came to terms with the end of his high school career, but remained grateful that their efforts paid off.

“It was more like, ‘Wow, we really did it.’ All the sacrifices we made, all those early morning trainings as a team—seeing it all pay off feels really good,” he said.

DLSZ’s Maco Dabao talks about the emotional moment after losing to NUNS, 72-70, in the UAAP jrs basketball Final Four @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/SetWTVCKOV

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) March 16, 2026

Dabao and the rest of the Junior Archers will still see action in the upcoming NBTC National Finals, where he is set to lead Team Hustle as one of the top-ranked U19 players in the country.

As he prepares to move on from DLSZ, the lifelong Lasallian expressed his desire to continue wearing green and white at the collegiate level, while keeping his options open.

“For sure, my dream ever since Grade 1 has been to go to La Salle—but I’m not closing any doors yet,” he said.

—GMA Integrated News