LIVE: UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals Game 1 – UP vs La Salle

• UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers begin their best-of-three championship duel in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals.

UAAP Finals: Jacob Cortez delivers as La Salle escapes UP in Game 1

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle spoiled Harold Alarcon’s career night, escaping University of the Philippines, 74-70, and taking Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

While Alarcon put on an offensive masterclass for the Fighting Maroons, it was Jacob Cortez who made the biggest shot of the night that helped the Green Archers close in on the UAAP title.

“I’m glad and fortunate that we were able to sustain the onslaught of Harold Alarcon. He really took over. He’s really clutch for that team,” coach Topex Robinson said. “I guess we just didn’t stop and made big runs of our own.”

Alarcon finished with a game-high 34 points–20 in the first half–along with two rebounds and two assists for UP, which held a close lead for most of the game.

But the Green Archers managed to string up a pivotal run late in the fourth quarter, aided by key plays from Luis Pablo and Mike Phillips, that put them back on top, 70-68.

WATCH: La Salle’s Doy Dungo, Luis Pablo, coach Topex Robinson and Jacob Cortez after the Game 1 win vs. UP. #UAAPFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ

•⁠ ⁠⁠Follow our UAAP live updates here: https://t.co/Xb8XJsS15R pic.twitter.com/eWvf5Jubit

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 10, 2025

LIVE UPDATES: UP vs La Salle UAAP men’s basketball Finals Game 1

• FINAL: La Salle escapes UP, 74-70, to take Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals.

CALL. FOR. THE. CUB. 📞🥶

WATCH: Jacob Cortez extends La Salle’s lead over UP to four, 74-70, with 27.4 to go with a huge triple. #UAAPFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ

•⁠ ⁠⁠Follow our UAAP live updates here: https://t.co/Xb8XJsRtgj pic.twitter.com/3GC2YzOYxn

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 10, 2025

• Jacob Cortez with a HUGE step-back 3! He gives La Salle a 74-70 lead with 27.4 seconds left.
• La Salle couldn’t score on 2 straight possessions. UP gets the ball and Harold Alarcon finishes with the 2. La Salle down 71-70. 46.5 seconds left.
• Mike Phillips makes 1/2 from the stripe. La Salle leads 71-68.
• Luis Pablo strikes anew! La Salle now on top, 70-68.
• Luis Pablo splits his freethrows. Tied game at 68.
• UP holding on to a 68-67 lead, under 5 minutes to play.
• Mike Phillips finds Luis Pablo down low. La Salle down 66-64.
• Harold Alarcon is unstoppable. Make it 32 points for him. UP leads 66-62, 6:23.
• Luis Pablo converts on another second chance point. La Salle within one, 63-62.
• JC Macalalag with the tip-in. La Salle down 63-60.
• UP holding on to a 63-58 advantage, over 7 minutes left to play.
• Harold Alarcon closing in on his 30th point. He has season high 29.
• Fourth quarter underway. UP leads 60-56.
• END OF THIRD: UP 58, La Salle 53.
• Jacob Cortez with another basket. La Salle trying to crawl back, down 58-53.
• Jacob Cortez drives for 2 but could not complete the and-1. UP still leads 58-51. 1:09 third quarter.
• Harold Alarcon two freethrows. UP leads 58-49, 1:23 third quarter.
• Reyland Torres with a left corner 3! UP opens up a 56-49 lead.
• Mike Phillips makes both freethrows. La Salle down 53-49, 2:13 third quarter.
• Reyland Torres with a tough turnaround from midrange. 53-47 advantage for the Fighting Maroons.
• Nnoruka put back! UP 51-47.
• Both teams trading shots. Jacon Cortez finishes with a layup, then Nnoruka scores 2 on the other end. UP leads 48-45.
• Abadiano for 2. UP 46-43.
• Vhoris Marasigan on the break. La Salle trails by one, 44-43.
• Harold Alarcon splits from the stripe. UP 44-41.
• Jacob Cortez pulls up for 2. La Salle still down 43-41.
• Nnoruka finds space and attacks. UP leads, 43-39.
• Tough baseline jumper from Abadiano. UP 41-37 La Salle.
• Harold Alarcon picks up where he left off with another 3! UP back with a four point lead, 39-35.
• Jacob Cortez with that crossover and pull up jumper to open the third quarter. La Salle down 36-35.

TIGHT ONE 😬

WATCH: UP leads La Salle at the half by three, 36-33.

Harold Alarcon already with 20 points after the first two quarters. #UAAPFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ

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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 10, 2025

• END OF SECOND: UP 36, La Salle 33.
• Harold Alarcon 🔥 with another 2–his 20th point. UP 36-33.
• Kean Baclaan step back 3! La Salle down 34-33.
• Fortea left wide open for 3! UP up by four, 34-30, its biggest lead so far.
• Dungo quickly answers with his own 3! UP holding on to a 31-30 lead, 2 minutes second quarter.
• Harold Alarcon for 3! UP leads 31-27.
• Abadam beats the shot clock. La Salle down 28-27.
• Offense has stalled for both sides here. UP still leads 28-25, 4:20 in the second quarter.
• Harold Alarcon with a highly contested fadeaway. He has 15 points. 28-25 lead for UP.
• Harold Alarcon still on fire! He opens the second quarter scoring. UP leads 26-25.
• END OF FIRST: La Salle 25, UP 24.
• Baclaan for 3! Alarcon for 3! Early shootout here.
• Dungo the energy guy for La Salle in the first quarter. He has another and-1 play. 22-19 lead for La Salle.
• Reyland Torres retaliates on the other end. 19-all.
• Baclaan gives La Salle the lead back, 19-17.
• Dungo with a spin and 2. He finishes the and-1. Game tied 17-all.
• Nnoruka answers on the other end. Alarcon with another attack to the hoop. UP leads 17-14.
• Dungo for 3! La Salle back in the lead, 14-13.
• Alarcon splits the freebie. UP leads 13-11.
• Harold Alarcon strong finish to the hoop. He gets the and-1. UP leads for the first time, 12-11. 4:38 first quarter.
• Abadiano scores on the other end. Tied game again at 9-all.
• Phillips with a fake and 2! La Salle 9-7.
• Game tied at 5-all.
• Jacob Cortez with this first 2. La Salle, 5-2.
• Abadiano opens the scoring for UP. La Salle still leads 3-2.
• Marasigan gives La Salle a 3-0 start, 8:15 first quarter.
• La Salle Green Archers Starting 5: Correz, Marasigan, Macalalag, Abadam, Phillips
• UP Fighting Maroons Starting 5: Remogat, Abadiano, Bayla, Nnoruka and Stevens.

THE CHAMPS ARE HERE 👑

Defending champion University of the Philippines warms up before Game 1 of the #UAAPFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/GHIZGhrZAY

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) December 10, 2025

ALMOST GO TIME ⏳

The De La Salle Green Archers take the floor to warm up here at Mall of Asia Arena before Game 1 of the #UAAPFinals vs. defending champion University of the Philippines. | @MeloFuertesINQ

•⁠ ⁠⁠Follow our UAAP live updates here: https://t.co/IL5AUs9OuO pic.twitter.com/vStWbkF9ZW

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 10, 2025

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 88 basketball Finals

December 10, Wednesday – Mall of Asia Arena

• 1pm – NU Lady Bulldogs vs UST Golden Tigresses (women’s Finals Game 2)
• 4pm – UP Fighting Maroons vs La Salle Green Archers (men’s Finals Game 1)

UAAP: Ann Pingol, NU’s graduating guard, wins women’s basketball MVP

MANILA, Philippines–In her final year with National University, Ann Pingol made sure to leave her mark by capturing the biggest individual accolade in UAAP women’s basketball.

The 5-foot-7 graduating guard was officially crowned the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: UAAP: NU nears women’s title repeat, deals UST first loss

Pingol, 24, who is also set to join Gilas Women for the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand, became just the third Lady Bulldog to win league MVP after Afril Bernardino (UAAP Seasons 77–79, 2014–16) and Jack Animam (Season 80, 2017).

Built on two triple-double performances, the younger sister of former Adamson and NU standout Kaye Pingol tallied 93.571 statistical points — 2.142 SPs ahead of dethroned MVP Kacey Dela Rosa of Ateneo.

“This is a big confidence booster for me. Even in my first year in the UAAP, I never aimed at winning an MVP. I just play my game and play within the flow of our system. I’m surprised with the outcome,” Pingol said in Filipino.

UAAP Finals: La Salle, UP begin clash

Defending champion University of the Philippines started the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on a 0-2 (win-loss) record but found a way to clinch the first Finals berth.

“[T]o start the season … 0-2, [but still] coming together, you know, and being able to respond … that, in itself, [is something] I’m very proud of,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde.

“This team, we’ve had so many ups and downs but I know that I trust that the team would always bounce back. They’ll always rise.”

There’s still one more 0-2 record the Maroons have a chance to overturn to become first again.

UAAP: Topex braces for another finals coaching battle with Goldwin

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle coach Topex Robinson was all smiles after the Green Archers’ Game 3 Final Four win over National University, 78-73, at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

Aside from guiding the Green Archers to the UAAP Finals for the third straight year, Robinson was also fired up for another coaching battle against University of the Philippines’ Goldwin Monteverde.

“It’s a good thing for me personally, as a coach, to learn from somebody who’s been there five times. That’s not luck,” he said.

“He really has a good staff there and a good support group, but we also have to take into consideration that we’re really happy to be here.”

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TAGS: UAAP Season 88

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