LIVE UPDATES: UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball

UAAP postpones Saturday games due to #PaengPH

READ: The UAAP cancels the afternoon games for both the men’s basketball and women’s badminton tournaments due to Typhoon #PaengPH. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/WNlTtXj58w

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) October 29, 2022

Updates on Tropical Storm Paeng here.

Bal David says coaches to blame for UST’s tough first round

Head coach Bal David and the UST Growling Tigers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

UST has had the most forgettable first round in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament so far.

It has just one win to show so far in the tournament, a 69-60 victory over Adamson behind Nic Cabanero’s 33-point explosion. And even that win is something that new Tigers coach Bal David attributes to good fortune.

“I think we got lucky against Adamson,” David, the former UST star and a PBA legend, said. “We weren’t scouted yet.” FULL STORY

Schedule of games – October 29

Smart Araneta Coliseum

2pm – La Salle Green Archers vs UST Growling Tigers
4pm – Adamson Falcons vs Ateneo Blue Eagles

FULL UAAP SEASON 85 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE HERE.

La Salle guard Evan Nelle gets one game suspension

La Salle guard Evan Nelle. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

La Salle will clash with University of Santo Tomas on Saturday in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament without one of its top playmakers.

Evan Nelle was slapped with a one-game suspension following an unsportsmanlike foul–his third of the season–in the Green archers’ 86-84 loss to Adamson last Saturday at the 2:13 mark of the first quarter. FULL STORY

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball second round

Top UAAP teams gear up for second round, with danger lurking below

UP guard JD Cagulangan takes a three-point shot against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP PHOTO

The UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament enters a pivotal juncture, and that’s why the Ateneo Blue Eagles probably met the in-between-rounds break with a slight groan.

There’s a lot more work to put in before the second phase of the eliminations starts.

“The more preparation time you give our coaching staff, the better off we are; and players don’t always like that because they know it’s a grind,’’ said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin. FULL STORY

FEU gets ‘big confidence booster’ with upset of NU

L-Jay Gonzales (13) and the FEU Tamaraws during their game against the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

L-Jay Gonzales sliced through the teeth of National University’s defense with 17.6 seconds remaining as Far Eastern University escaped with a 47-44 victory on Sunday night at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Gonzales scooted past Steve Nash Enriquez off the dribble and scooped the shot that pegged the count and eventually nailed the second straight win of the Tamaraws after triumph eluded them in their first five outings.

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without the trust of my coaches. It wasn’t for me, that shot was for my team,” said Gonzales. FULL STORY

Ateneo pulls away in 2nd half to beat UE

Ateneo swingman Dave Ildefonso.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo caught University of East off guard in a blistering assault after emerging from the halftime dugout to prevail, 91-76, and stay within range of the leaders in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

The Blue Eagles quickly unloaded a 17-0 blitz right with Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame and Forthsky Padrigao doing heavy damage while leaving the Red Warriors without a single field goal in six minutes.

Ildefonso tallied 20 points after playing a vital role in that rough and tumble attack where Ateneo’s lead swelled to the point of no return to end the first-round eliminations carrying a second-best, 5-2 record. FULL STORY

Jerom Lastimosa, Adamson overcome La Salle in OT

Adamson guard Jerom Lastimosa during a game against La Salle in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jerom Lastimosa erupted for 29 points as Adamson outlasted La Salle in a tiring back-and-forth battle of attrition, 86-84, on Saturday night in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Vince Magbuhos swished the three that put the Falcons ahead by two before Adamson clamped down on the Green Archers the rest of the way to close out the first round of elimination with a crucial win, their third in seven games. FULL STORY

FEU dominates UST to finally end losing slide

FEU Tamaraws’s Xyrus Torres. –UAAP PHOTO

Far Eastern University supporters arrived in droves expecting a big celebration and got what they came for.

Bryan Sajonia provided that spark of hope and energized the Tamaraws in their breakthrough win at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas, 75-60, on Wednesday night at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

“We’re really thankful for the support of the FEU community. It made a difference,’’ said Sajonia. FULL STORY

UP fends off UE for share of lead

UP forward Carl Tamayo dunks the ball against UE in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO

University of the Philippines encountered the resistance it hardly anticipated from University of the East before pulling off an 84-77 victory for a share of the lead in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Zavier Lucero steadied the Fighting Maroons with a three-point play that gave them a 10-point cushion with 42.8 seconds remaining and sealed their fifth win in six games by sinking their free throws along the way.

Carl Tamayo scored 13 points before twisting his right ankle in the dying seconds while playmaker Terrence Fortea and defensive ace Gerry Abadiano made good account of themselves as the Maroons fended off UE’s late charge. FULL STORY

Kai Ballungay stars as Ateneo gets back on track with win over Adamson

Ateneo’s Kai Ballungay dunks the ball during a game against Adamson in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO

Ateneo clipped the wings of Adamson early en route to an emphatic 76-55 win on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Blue Eagles made short work of the Falcons, hastily unleashing a scoring binge at the onset of the third quarter anchored on Kai Balungay before pulling away for good in notching their fourth win after six games.

Balungay tallied a career-high 21 points on eight of 10 field-goal shooting as the Blue Eagles recovered lost ground from a previous forgettable rematch with the UP Fighting Maroons that ended in despair.

NU outlasts La Salle to push win streak to four games

NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–National University brought down another crown contender in La Salle, 80-76, on Wednesday to maintain its hold of the lead in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Omar John threw his weight around the paint, scoring on a dunk off a feed by Steve Nash Enriquez and finding himself unchallenged in the next sequence that stretched the Bulldogs’ advantage to eight inside the final two minutes. FULL STORY

Carl Tamayo, UP edge Ateneo in OT

UP Fighting Maroons forward Carl Tamayo celebrates during a win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP PHOTO

Carl Tamayo proved his worth in another cliffhanger as UP downed Ateneo in overtime, 76-71, on Sunday night in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Tamayo scored six of his game-high 20 points in extra time, including a three-point play triggered by Ange Kouame’s goaltending that put the Fighting Maroons ahead by five inside the final two minutes.

Forthsky Padrigao pulled the Blue Eagles within two with a long three that bound off the rim before trickling in before Tamayo and Malick Diouf sealed UP’s fourth win in five games for a share of the lead with the NU Bulldogs. FULL STORY

Strong third quarter helps UE beat UST

UE’s Luis Villegas celebrates during a game against UST in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—University of the East banked on a dizzying third-quarter blitz and the ejection of Adama Faye to topple University of the Santo Tomas, 78-68, on Sunday at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Luis Villegas had 17 points and 13 rebounds in a breakout performance, but it was the needed spark from Frederic Antiporda in the third that propelled the Red Warriors to notch their second straight win.

“I’m grateful to my teammates. They were persistent with me. I just let the game come and it worked out,” said Villegas. FULL STORY

NU gains solo lead, escapes Adamson

NU’s Michael Malonzo against Adamso in UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

National University gained solo leadership in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament after squeezing past Adamson, 58-54, on Saturday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Michael Malonzo gave the Bulldogs a five-point cushion with less than a minute to go before watching the Falcons botch several opportunities in a failed effort to turn everything around. FULL STORY

La Salle dominates winless FEU in bounce back victory

La Salle’s Schonny Winston vs FEU. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–La Salle was left dumbstruck when last season’s victory-deprived team managed to put the Green Archers on the ropes and eventually brought them down.

The Archers knew better this time, extra cautious of another possible upset against a winless squad before downing the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 87-70, on Saturday in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

“That UE loss was a big lesson for us and as I’ve said we cannot take things lightly,’’ said La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren. FULL STORY.

UAAP: Vince Magbuhos career-high propels Adamson past FEU

Adamson’s Vince Magbuhos. –UAAP PHOTO

The Adamson Falcons are constantly finding their bearings.

For the second consecutive outing, the Falcons seemed to be doing something right after bringing down the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in a methodical 76-65 win on Wednesday evening at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. FULL STORY. 

Paranada brothers take charge as UE upsets La Salle

UE guard Kyle Paranda leads the Red Warriors to latest UAAP win. –UAAP PHOTO

Kyle Paranada shot the lights out in cold blood to send University of the East past La Salle, 81-74, in a whirlwind finish Wednesday night at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

The cat-quick Paranada poured 13 of his team-high 20 points near the end of the fourth as the Red Warriors rose from eight points down with six minutes left and turned back the highly favored Green Archers following the latter’s conquest of arch rival Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“This is a big confidence-booster for us because La Salle is a big team and possibly a championship team,’’ said Paranada, who banked the go-ahead basket in transition that triggered the upset inside the final two minutes. FULL STORY. 

Ateneo rebounds with demolishing of UST

Ateneo’s Forthsky Padrigao. –UAAP PHOTO

Ateneo needed only a short burst of gunfire in a cold stretch fresh in the second half to demolish University of the Santo Tomas, 79-52, on Wednesday at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Forthsky Padrigao helped the Blue Eagles extricate themselves from a stiff skirmish with the Growling Tigers together with Dave Ildefonso and Kai Balungay in redeeming themselves from a piercing defeat recently against arch nemesis La Salle. FULL STORY. 

Ateneo Blue Eagles post-game interview after losing to La Salle

La Salle Green Archers post-game interview after beating Ateneo

La Salle beats rival Ateneo for first time in 5 years

La Salle’s Schonny Winston leads the Green Archers past Ateneo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Schonny Winston came through in the clutch with a pair of key jumpers as the De La Salle Green Archers shot down the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 83-78, on Sunday at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Winston pulled up with a short stab that gave them a breather and dropped in a floater from the corner to put the Archers comfortably ahead by six before La Salle’s defensive crackdown doomed the Blue Eagles for good.

Evan Nelle, instrumental for pushing La Salle ahead and restraining Forth Padrigao all game long, swished a pair free throws to ice the win, the Green Archers first since the Game 2 of the Season 80 finals that Ateneo won five years ago. FULL STORY. 

NU beats UST in thriller as Clemente, Baclaan take over

NU’s Jhon Lloyd Clemente vs UST Tigers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The National University Bulldogs didn’t like the way they were pushed around by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a recent defeat.

Jhon Lloyd Clemente and Jhay Baclaan made sure they won’t be bullied again in leading the Bulldogs to a nerve-wracking 69-63 win over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Sunday in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tourney.

Clemente sealed NU’s second victory in three games by sinking four free throws inside the final minute that preserved the game-long brilliance of Baclaan against his former team. FULL STORY. 

UP holds off FEU with strong finish led by Carl Tamayo

UP Fighting Maroons’ Carl Tamayo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–University of the Philippines weathered Far Eastern University’s fierce fightback with a strong finish for a 73-67 victory that kept the defending champions at the top of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball ladder last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Carl Tamayo found his range in a key stretch, scoring half of his 16 points in the fourth while Terrence Fortea knocked down all of his five threes and finished with a career high 17 points in the unbeaten Fighting Maroons’ third straight win. FULL STORY. 

Adamson scores first win, dominates UE

Adamson’s Joem Sabandal versus UE defenders in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Adamson University fought a pair of suspenseful games and narrowly lost them both.

The Falcons finally got over the hump, riding on Lenda Douanga and Vince Magbuhos near the end to complete a 74-61 mastery of the University of the East Warriors on Saturday at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Douanga’s two-hand jam followed by a couple of timely incursions around the rim provided the breather while Magbuhos sealed their first win of the season in three games with a power move inside and an explosive three after missing his first eight attempts from afar. FULL STORY. 

Ange Kouame, Ateneo crush NU for 2-0 start

Ateneo’s Ange Kouame. –UAAP PHOTO

Exceptional circumstances happen to the Ateneo Blue Eagles whenever Ange Kouame asserts his dominance on the floor.

The Blue Eagles rode on the shoulders on Kouame and their magnificent shooting to whip the National University Bulldogs, 77-60, on Wednesday night in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

The bruising behemoth barreled his way to 17 points and 12 rebounds while Forthsky Padrigao buried threes during the crucial stretches and finished with 13 points, his efficiency rubbing off to the rest of the Blue Eagles. FULL STORY. 

La Salle clobbers UST to pick up first win

FILE–La Salle Green Archers in UAAP Season 85. – Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The De La Salle Green Archers bounced back in a big way on Wednesday night, cutting the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers to pieces in an emphatic 83-63 win at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Deschon Winston executed another prolific outing, scoring 19 points in an all-around effort for the Green Archers that more than efficiently covered for the absence of Evan Nelle, who has been nursing a fever. READ FULL STORY.

UE ends long skid, beats FEU

Kyle Paranada (3) celebrates with his teammates Jalen Stevens, left, and Harvey Pagsanjan during a game against FEU in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO

Expect an entirely different University of the East Red Warriors this UAAP Season 85.

The transformation officially began on Wednesday when the Warriors trounced the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 76-66, at the Philsports Arena, ending a long, frustrating slide of 15 straight games dating back the past two seasons.

Playmaker Kyle Paranada went to town by firing five threes and finishing 25 points for the Warriors, whose breakthrough victory erased a season-opening heartbreaker against the NU Bulldogs. READ FULL STORY.

Forthsky Padrigao steps up to lead Ateneo past FEU

Ateneo guard Forthsky Padrigao during a game against FEU in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Forthsky Padrigao produced a stat line worthy of taking up the torch for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

The shifty guard knocked down a crucial three from way out with 38.5 seconds remaining, helping the Blue Eagles topple the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 79-70, and open the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament with aplomb on Sunday night. READ FULL STORY.

Under fire, Kean Baclaan keeps focus on adjusting to NU

NU guard Kean Baclaan. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Rookie Kean Baclaan wants to let his game do the talking after taking flak when he took a U-turn from playing for University of Santo Tomas in the preseason to enrolling at National University two months before the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

The highly-touted rookie had a fine debut with eight points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals to help NU beat University of the East, 77-70, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

With high expectations, Baclaan keeps his focus on adjusting with the Bulldogs. FULL STORY. 

NU banks on strong 4th quarter to beat UE

NU Bulldogs during their game against University of the East in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines-Jake Figueroa herded National University to a strong finish for a 77-70 thrashing of the University of the East in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Figueroa scattered eight of his 14 points when it mattered most as the Bulldogs pulled away for good after the Red Warriors mounted a dizzying third-quarter surge. FULL STORY. 

UAAP: Rookie jitters get the better of Kevin Quiambao in La Salle debut

La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Kevin Quiambao was quick to pin his struggles on rookie jitters.

The crafty La Salle forward finished with five points, four rebounds and four assists in the Green Archers’ 72-69 loss to defending champion University of the Philippines Saturday night.

“The start to my season was bad,” he told reporters in Filipino. “I guess I’ll just have to treat this as a lesson.” FULL STORY. 

UP Fighting Maroons post-game interview after 72-69 win

Carl Tamayo, UP frustrate La Salle anew in comeback win

UP’s Carl Tamayo against La Salle’s Michael Phillips. INQUIRER PHOTO/Tristan Tamayo

Carl Tamayo calmly buried two game-clinching free throws in the dying seconds as University of the Philippines opened its title-retention bid with a come-from-behind 72-69 win over La Salle on Saturday night at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

Tamayo’s freebies with four ticks left completed the Fighting Maroons climb from a hole reminiscent of their conquest of the Green Archers in the Final Four last season. FULL STORY

Minus veterans, Nic Cabañero emerges for UST

UST’s Nic Cabañero. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas head coach Bal David was hardly surprised when Nic Cabañero took charge and exploded for a career-high 33 points to kick off their UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament campaign on a high note.

The sophomore guard, who is turning 19 on Monday, showed maturity beyond years by leading the way in the Growling Tigers’ 69-60 win over the Adamson Falcons on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena. FULL STORY. 

UST Growling Tigers post-game interview after 69-60 win

October 1

Inspired by the ’93 UST team, young Tigers show promise

Head coach Bal David and the UST Growling Tigers during their game against the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

New UST coach Bal David wore a smile of a giddy kid when asked about his charges wearing a near-exact copy of the 1993 Growling Tigers uniform.

Understandably so. He was, after all, part of that fabled squad that blew away the competition and swept the men’s basketball tournament—one of the only four schools to pull off such a feat.

And then it hit him: There’s also immense pressure that comes with the reference, especially considering the crop of players that he has. FULL STORY. 

Nic Cabanero drops career-best 33 to lift UST past Adamson in opener

UST’s Nic Cabanero in the Growling iIgers’ opening game in the UAAP Season 85. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas has found a new king tiger in its lair.

Nic Cabanero fired a career-high 33 points, including the insurance basket with 41.6 seconds left, to propel the Growling Tigers to a 69-60 win at the start of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday. FULL STORY. 

UAAP Season 85 preview: UP Maroons face tall order against souped-up competition

University of the Philippines earned its opponents’ respect after ending a 36-year championship drought. But the two squads it took down last season to make history, Ateneo and La Salle, are out to redeem themselves as the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament tips off on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fighting Maroons, who used to be pushovers in the past decades before becoming contenders in the league for the last three seasons, are now being hunted by seven other teams after JD Cagulangan capped their epic Season 84 with a history-making triple to dethrone the Blue Eagles in Finals Game 3 last May. READ FULL PREVIEW.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball first round

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