RESULTS: UAAP basketball Finals Game 3 – La Salle vs UP

BACK ON TOP! Final: UP dethrones La Salle in Game 3, 66-62, to rule the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.

UP Fighting Maroons reclaim their place on top of the UAAP men’s basketball after dethroning La Salle Green Archers in 3 games of the Season 87 Finals.

After UAAP Finals heartbreak, Kevin Quiambao mum on future

La Salle star Kevin Quiambao after the Green Archers lost the title to UP Fighting Maroons after Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Finals

La Salle star Kevin Quiambao after the Green Archers lost the title to UP Fighting Maroons after Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Kevin Quiambao will be taking his time before pondering his next move after a shattered title repeat dream for La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

The two-time UAAP MVP shed tears after falling short to the University of the Philippines in Finals Game 3, 66-62,  in front of a record-breaking 25,248 crowd on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With UP defense focused on him Quiambao was limited to a 4-of-11 shooting — 16.7% from the three-point line –to finish with 13 points and four rebounds in possibly his final UAAP game.

Francis Lopez redeems self to emerge as UP hero in title clincher

Francis Lopez and UP Fighting Maroons celebrate after beating the La Salle Green Archers in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Francis Lopez was a man of his word, making up for his costly Game 2 errors with a clutch triple that sealed University of the Philippines’ successful title redemption in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

After La Salle cut the lead down to one with 90 seconds left, Lopez was left wide open at the top of the key for an opportunity to redeem himself and he pounced on it with a dagger three that gave UP a crucial 64-60 lead at the final 1:12 mark.

In a game of inches that was Game 3, Lopez’s three proved to be the dagger as it forced La Salle to scramble for baskets with the time winding down.

UAAP Finals: Topex Robinson, La Salle eager to build on loss

La Salle coach Topex Robinson sing the Green Archers’ hymn in front of the fans after the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. UP won the championship in Game 3. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines— Coach Topex Robinson barely had any regrets at the end of the UAAP Season 87 Finals where La Salle got its crown knocked off by rival  University of the Philippines.

After a heart-stopping fourth quarter, the Fighting Maroons clinched the championship and dethroned the Green Archers in Game 3, 66-62, at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday to return atop the food chain of the UAAP men’s basketball.

Despite missing out on back-to-back titles, Robinson exuded pride for his boys after La Salle just fell short in the clutch at the hands of UP.

IN PHOTOS: UP beats La Salle in Finals Game 3 to win UAAP title

VIDEO: UP Fighting Maroons on winning UAAP Season 87 championship

JD Cagulangan ends UP stint with UAAP Finals MVP award

UP FIghting Maroons’ JD Cagulangan in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. UP won the title after beating La Salle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines — JD Cagulangan saved the best for last, ending his collegiate career with his second championship and the UAAP Season 87 Finals MVP.

Cagulangan was crowned as the best player of the Finals after the University of the Philippines exacted a sweet revenge on La Salle, 66-62, in Game 3 to reclaim their championship in front of a record-breaking crowd of 25,248 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UP outlasts La Salle in Game 3 to reclaim UAAP men’s basketball title

Francis Lopez and UP Fighting Maroons celebrate after beating the La Salle Green Archers in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons reclaimed their place as the men’s basketball kings after ruling UAAP Season 87 and dethroning La Salle Green Archers.

UP defeated La Salle, 66-62, in a fittingly close Game 3 duel on Sunday to complete its redemption bid after back-to-back bridesmaid finishes since winning the championship in UAAP Season 84.

LIVE UPDATES: La Salle Green Archers vs UP Fightings Maroons (UAAP men’s Finals Game 3)

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IN PHOTOS: NU Lady Bulldogs win UAAP Season 87 basketball title

UAAP: NU holds off UST to reclaim women’s basketball title

NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate after winning the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball championship.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — National University slayed the ghost of its past with a 78-73 victory over University of Santo Tomas in Game 3 to reclaim the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball title on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Last year, NU blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter as UST ended its seven-year reign in a dramatic Game 3 finish.

The Lady Bulldogs were pushed to the same situation when the Growling Tigresses erased their 14-point lead when Tacky Tacatac hit crucial treys to turn it into a five-point game, 75-70, with still 1:45 to play.

LIVE UPDATES: NU Lady Bulldogs vs UST Growling Tigresses (UAAP women’s Finals Game 3)

UP, La Salle Down to one last battle in the UAAP Finals

In defending the crucial misses of Francis Lopez during the crucial moments of Game 2 of the UAAP men’s basketball Finals, University of the Philippines (UP) coach Goldwin Monteverde said basketball had always been a game about making shots.

“Basketball is like that. [Shots are] either missed or made,” Monteverde said.

Fittingly, the last remaining statistic that has held true, as far as being a key marker for the outcomes of games between UP and defending champion La Salle is concerned, is the one that deals with makes and misses.

UAAP Finals: Playing through nightmare, La Salle ends up with dream Game 2 win

Kevin Quiambao reacts after a crucial play in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals against UP Fighting Maroons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

There were only two ways Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals could have ended for La Salle coach Topex Robinson.

“It’s every coach’s dream or nightmare,” he said.

No middle ground. No gray area.

And until late in the fourth quarter, the Archers looked like a team eager to wake up from a bad dream. Until Kevin Quiambao took over.

UAAP Season 87 basketball Finals Game 3 schedule

December 15, Sunday Smart Araneta Coliseum

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