LIVE UPDATES: UAAP Season 86 Final Four November 25

Smart Araneta Coliseum

11 a.m. – UP Fighting Maroons vs UST Tigresses (women’s)
2 p.m. – UP Fighting Maroons vs Ateneo Blue Eagles (men’s)
6 p.m. – La Salle Green Archers vs NU Bulldogs (men’s)

UAAP Season 86 Finals set: La Salle vs UP

THE FINALS IS SET!

For the first time since La Salle joined the UAAP in 1986, the Green Archers and the UP Fighting Maroons clash in the title series of the men’s basketball tournament. #UAAPSeason86 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/ZWiWH6QHuj

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 25, 2023

Photo: La Salle ousts NU to enter UAAP Finals

Video: La Salle coach Topex Robinson, Kevin Quiambao, Evan Nelle, and Mark Nonoy

La Salle guard Evan Nelle.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The La Salle Green Archers may have finally gotten over the hump after booking a ticket to the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Finals.

But Evan Nelle, who was part of the past two heartbreaking seasons, is keeping his focus on achieving their ultimate goal: the championship.

“Bittersweet, I guess? I don’t know. I’m just focusing on the now, not the past few seasons, I’m staying in the moment. I’m actually excited, but we have to control our emotions for the Finals. A lot can still happen so we have to prepare,” said Nelle after La Salle demolished National University, 97-73, in their Final Four clash on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

La Salle guard Mark Nonoy.—MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time ever, La Salle battles University of the Philiippines in the UAAP men’s basketball Finals.

The surging Green Archers finally ended a six-year Finals drought after eliminating the No.3 National University Bulldogs, 97-73, in their Season 86 Final Four clash on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Nonoy shot four three-pointers to finish with 20 points as La Salle dominated NU by as many as 24 points, 70-46. He gave the Archers their first 24-point lead with a booming triple with under a minute left in the third quarter.

UP rookie Francis Lopez during a UAAP Final Four game against Ateneo.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Almost a year ago, Francis Lopez was celebrating with Ateneo, which reclaimed the crown in a rematch with University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball Finals Game 3.

On Saturday, Lopez was in a festive mood again but this time after helping the Fighting Maroons dethrone the Blue Eagles, 57-46, in their Season 86 Final Four showdown.

UAAP: Tab Baldwin hopes Final Four exit ‘lights fire’ under Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo Blue Eagles may have missed the UAAP Finals for the first time in eight years but Tab Baldwin believes that the end of their six consecutive championship appearances marks the start of their development and growth.

“A lot of people will look at this season, and they’ll say it’s a season of failure, it’s a season of indifference. But you know, I choose to look at the glass being half full. And I’d like to think that this season is a bridge for us,” said Baldwin after they got dethroned by the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines, 57-46, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Final Four on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines dethroned Ateneo, 57-46, to book its third straight Finals in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons’ rookie Francis Lopez, an Ateneo high school product, put on the finishing touches to bring back UP to the Finals with a clutch lefty layup to push their lead to 55-46 with 32.6 seconds left before sealing the win with two free throws to eliminate the Blue Eagles, who missed the championship round for the first time in eight years.

Lopez rose to the occasion in front of 14,505 fans, with 12 points and 10 rebounds and helping the Fighting Maroons exact sweet revenge on their Finals tormentor last year.

Score: UP Fighting Maroons ousts Ateneo Blue Eagles

FINALS-BOUND!

JUST IN: UP dethrones Ateneo, 57-46, to enter the #UAAPSeason86 title series for the third straight time. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/N7l7NZ5xms

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 25, 2023

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas ended a four-year Finals drought to forge a best-of-three title series against defending champion National University in the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament.

UST refused to commit another late-game collapse as it staved off gritty University of the Philippines, 87-83, in their Final Four rubber match on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Kent Pastrana scored a putback off Brigette Santos’ missed layup from her steal to give UST an 86-77 cushion with 56.7 seconds left.

Lady Bulldogs, UST Tigresses dispute UAAP women’s crown

NU Lady Bulldogs vs UST Growling Tigresses in the #UAAPSeason86 women’s basketball Finals.

FINAL: UST eliminates UP, 87-83, in the rubber match of their Final Four series. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/9aOL5nj1he

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 25, 2023

The best of the best of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament have come this far, to a stage where the veritable men always get separated from the boys.

The Final Four, nothing, save for the title series itself, is more exciting and the match-ups are definitely mouth-watering. Depending, of course, on which school one is rooting for.

Elimination round topnotcher University of the Philippines (UP) squares off with Ateneo, and No. 2 La Salle battles National University (NU), with the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers needing to beat their respective foes just once to make it to the best-of-three title series.

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