UAAP Sept. 28 preview: Ateneo’s perfect start to be tested by Adamson, UE seeks first win with UP

A jam-packed Sunday, Sept. 28, is in store for the UAAP Season 88 as current league leaders, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, have shown their might but will be tested by the gritty Adamson Soaring Falcons in the headliner. Meanwhile, the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons are still surprisingly looking for their first win of the season as they face the also-winless UE Red Warriors.

Coming off another dominant win, Ateneo has looked strong courtesy of one-and-done star Kymani Ladi. Ladi has lived up to the lofty expectations given to him before the season, and the Filipino-American shows no signs of stopping any time soon. However, against the Falcons, who have shown their durability against UP in their last game, Ateneo’s strong start will face its toughest test yet.

The biggest question surrounding the season so far is the Fighting Maroons, who have looked more like the Mikee Reyes-led era Fighting Maroons than the powerhouse that denied former two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao a last chance at a UAAP title last season. Can UE take advantage of the Maroons’ weakened state?

Kymani Ladi sank a clutch triple in the final seconds to lift Ateneo past UE for the early lead in the #UAAPSeason88 Men’s Basketball Tournament#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/8spxLv7Xw0

📷 Neo Garcia/UAAP Season 88 Media Team pic.twitter.com/NrzcoAInls

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 24, 2025

Can the Soaring Falcons contain Ladi?

Ladi’s impact on the Blue Eagles has propelled them to become one of the top teams this season. The 6’8 forward has shown he has already acclimated to the UAAP and has been one of the key momentum-setters for Ateneo. 

Ladi has scored 44 points across two games and averages almost a double-double per game. If Adamson can somewhat contain the former Merrit College standout, their chances would improve drastically. Both FEU and UE didn’t really focus their defenses on Ladi, given that the season was still in its early stages, but Adamson has the privilege of watching the first two games and figuring out a defensive game plan to contain him.

Adamson boasts Cedrick Manzano and FSA OJ Ojarikre, as well as potent defenders such as AJ Fransman and Austin Ronzone that can help double Ladi down low. But even then, Adamson’s chances of improving to a 2-1 slate are dependent on whether the rest of the Blue Eagles can take advantage of the increased attention on their one-and-done star.

Somebody’s 0 has got to go

No one could have predicted the Fighting Maroons to be winless in two games to start the season, but with he departures of Quentin Millora-Brown and JD Cagulangan, it seemed inevitable. UP has clearly lacked size and scoring options in their first two games against the UST Growling Tigers and Adamson.

UE has a chance to take advantage of State U’s lack of presence in the paint via their FSA Precious Momowei. The center has not shown his usual dominance in the first two games after competing with DLSU’s Mark Philiips and Ateneo’s Ladi, but this is his chance to once again invoke fear into the UAAP by pummeling the weakened Fighting Maroons.

Someone has to step up for UP, whether it be one of their seniors, dubbed the “Maroon 5,” or anticipated transferee Rey Remogat, who has greatly struggled to start the season. By no means is this UP or UE’s game to win; both teams will have to show why they deserve to win, and by the end of the game, either the defending champions stave away from receiving their worst starting record in years or the Red Warriors show hope in new head coach Chris Gavina’s new era.

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