RESULTS: UAAP Season 87 basketball Finals Game 1 – La Salle vs UP

UAAP Season 87 basketball Finals schedule

December 8, Sunday – Game 1 – Smart Araneta Coliseum

UAAP Finals: No more Game 3 this time, hopes ex-UP star Malick Diouf

UAAP Finals Game 1

UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals Game 1 between UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle GReen Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines—Former University of the Philippines star Malick Diouf was in attendance for Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals between the Fighting Maroons and La Salle.

With his attendance comes his wish for UP in the best-of-three series–but it’s easier said than done.

“For me, I want no more [extra] games,” said a beaming Diouf with Inquirer Sports at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

UAAP Finals: Perfect farewell within Quentin Millora-Brown’s reach

Quentin Millora-Brown during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals between La Salle Green Archers and UP Fighting Maroons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Quentin Millora-Brown is a win closer to experiencing a championship in his first and only season in the UAAP.

Millora-Brown stood tall in the University of the Philippines’ 73-65 win over defending champion La Salle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals on Sunday in front of 16,202 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-10 center, who was limited to four points in the first half, gave the Fighting Maroons a huge lift in the last two quarters to finish with a career-high 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

UAAP Finals: UP star JD Cagulangan immediately shifts focus to Game 2

UP Fighting Maroons star JD Cagulangan during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals against La Salle Green Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — JD Cagulangan knows too well not to feel settled after the University of the Philippines Game 1 win in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals.

The Fighting Maroons inched closer to a championship with a 73-65 victory on Sunday over defending champion La Salle, but given how they fared in the past–winning the last four Finals series openers but losing the last two in heartbreaking Game 3 finishes–Cagulangan remains wary.

“The series doesn’t end with just Game 1, so we’ll go back, train, and prepare because, of course, La Salle will adjust to what we’re doing,” said Cagulangan, who tallied 13 points, five assists, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. “We’ll always be ready for whatever challenges we’ll face in Game 2.”

UAAP Finals: Jacob Bayla plays Kevin Quiambao stopper in Game 1

Jacob Bayla guarding Kevin Quiambao during the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Finals between UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines rookie Jacob Bayla was a revelation in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals, shutting down Kevin Quiambao in the second half in front of 16,202 fans on Sunday

With the two-time UAAP MVP pouring in 18 points and nine rebounds in the first half for La Salle, UP coach Goldwin Monteverde made a major adjustment in assigning Bayla to guard Quiambao.

And the Filipino-American recruit didn’t disappoint and limited Quiambao to just a point in the second half, where he missed all of his six shots.

UAAP Finals: UP shuts down La Salle to win Game 1

Quentin Millora-Brown rises for a slam in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals between La Salle Green Archers and UP Fighting Maroons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines is just a win away from reclaiming the UAAP men’s basketball championship after a 73-65 victory over La Salle in Game 1 of the Season 87 Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Quentin Millora-Brown made his presence felt with 17 points and nine rebounds and JD Cagulangan helped with 13 points for the fighting Maroons to gain the crucial series-opening win.

“I’m thankful to my teammates for responding well, whether it’s in our offensive or defensive schemes,” said Cagulangan. “After this game, we’ll go back, train again, and review our lapses, whether on offense or defense. Yeah, it’s still all about practice for us.”

LIVE UPDATES: La Salle Green Archers vs UP Fightings Maroons (UAAP Finals Game 1)

IN PHOTOS: UAAP women’s Finals Game 1

UAAP Finals: UST Tigresses hold heads high, eye Game 2 bounce back

Kent Pastrana (5) and the UST Tigresses during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion University of Santo Tomas remained optimistic despite a heartbreaking loss to National University in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST blew a golden opportunity to get a headstart in the best-of-three series after losing a 14-point lead in the third quarter to fall to NU, 72-71, on a layup by Cielo Pagdulagan with 50 seconds remaining.

“Nothing to be ashamed of. Breaks of the game, yung last play namin was really made for Tacky. It was a good shot. Unfortunately, nag-miss kami. It’s a good miss,” said UST coach Haydee Ong.

UAAP Finals: NU Lady Bulldogs survive UST in Game 1

NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after escaping the UST Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — National University overcame a double-digit deficit to escape defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 72-71, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cielo Pagdulagan made the game-winning layup with 50 seconds left capping the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback from 14 down in the third quarter.

“We know for a fact that it’s a short series. The mindset of our team was very important to get Game 1. We should not look at the results right away, let the results take care of itself. Our mindset was to play the game possession by possession,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan, whose squad goes for the title clincher in Game 2 on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

LIVE UPDATES: NU Lady Bulldogs vs UST Growing Tigresses (UAAP Finals Game 1)

UAAP Finals: Past is past for La Salle, UP as title duel begins

UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers begin their UAAP Finals duel on Sunday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

None of the previous results between La Salle and University of the Philippines (UP) matter when Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament gets going.

Even two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao of the Green Archers knows that. All that matters is who will come in more prepared for Sunday’s clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think, coming to this finals, right now it’s back to 0-0,” Quiambao said as La Salle renews its rivalry against the Fighting Maroons that started last season. “No matter what the history of our past games in round one and two, this is a new game.”

UST Tigresses enter UAAP Finals, but not with excessive exultation

University of Santo Tomas worked its way towards getting the shot to defend its UAAP women’s basketball crown.

But there were no big on-court celebrations, just a team huddle after the final buzzer and a gingerly walk back to the dugout after the school hymn. That’s because the Growling Tigresses know what’s ahead of them.

Santo Tomas stopped Adamson dead on its tracks at the close of the stepladder semifinals on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum and will be squaring off against a familiar foe in National University (NU) for the Season 87 championship with both finalists eyeing a sort of redemption.

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