New kings or old powers? UAAP Final Four opens a high-stakes Season 88 showdown

The UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament turns a page on Wednesday as the Final Four opens not just another postseason, but a new chapter defined by unexpected climbs, redemption arcs, and a clear passing of the torch at the top of the league.

National University stands at the center of that shift. For years, the Bulldogs lurked in the shadow of traditional contenders, but Season 88 has rewritten their identity. With an 11–3 record, NU became the first to clinch a playoff spot, the first to lock up a twice-to-beat edge, and the first to convincingly plant themselves as championship favorites. 

Their 1:30 p.m. semifinal against La Salle is less a rematch and more a test of whether NU’s rise is built to withstand the pressure of deeper postseason lights.

While NU’s ascent was steady and inevitable, the paths of La Salle, UST, and UP were far less linear.

UP arrives with the composure of defending champions, securing the other twice-to-beat shield at 10–4 despite never quite matching NU’s consistency. Still, the Fighting Maroons have rarely needed a spotless run to heat up when it matters. 

Their 4:30 p.m. showdown with UST sets the stage for a rematch of last year’s semifinal duel — only this time with a Tigers squad that has tasted what victory over UP feels like.

UST’s season was a rollercoaster that started with a surge and nearly ended in collapse. A 5–1 opening quickly turned into a four-game losing streak, and the Growling Tigers had to claw their way to an 8–6 finish. 

THE FINAL FOUR IS SET!

The race for the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball title is down to these squads as they clash to determine who takes home the trophy.

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Yet their early brilliance gave them enough breathing room to survive the turbulence, and their confidence against UP comes from more than just hope — they routed the Maroons by 20 in their first meeting.

La Salle, meanwhile, had the most dramatic trek to the Final Four. The Green Archers were buried in a three-way tie for the last playoff spot entering the final day of eliminations. Their decisive win over Ateneo — eliminating both the Blue Eagles and FEU — secured their 8–6 ticket and kept their season alive. But this time, they enter the semifinals in a position unfamiliar to them: the underdog.

And their opponent is the one team that’s consistently exposed their flaws. NU swept their eliminations matchup, using depth and balance to overpower La Salle in both rounds. And while many expected Jake Figueroa or Steve Nash Enriquez to define those wins, it was Paul Francisco who repeatedly torched the Archers — dropping 13 and 14 points in their meetings and becoming a surprise matchup nightmare.

Figueroa still looms large, of course, with his near-all-around-leader numbers. On the other side, La Salle banks heavily on Mike Phillips’ massive double-double averages and Jacob Cortez, who brings the poise of someone who’s literally fought through a twice-to-win scenario before.

“We’re excited to go against NU. All I can say is we’ll take it one game at a time. I’ve been there before when I had to beat a team twice,” Cortez said, recalling his NCAA playoff run with San Beda.

UP–UST, meanwhile, is less about seeding and more about timing. The Tigers’ leaders — Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao — are down to their final seasons. 

This semifinal is their last chance to take down UP when it counts, and they have the weapons to make it interesting. Cabañero is one of the league’s top scorers, Padrigao remains a steady playmaker, and foreign student-athlete Collins Akowe has been an unstoppable interior force.

UP counters with Francis Nnoruka’s own near-double-double production, reinforced by the veteran steadiness of Harold Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano — and for the first time in the postseason, they also feature the electric duo of former UE standouts Rey Remogat and Gani Stevens.

Season 88’s Final Four isn’t just a continuation of the UAAP’s traditional storylines.
It’s a collision of new powers, revived contenders, and programs fighting to protect legacies or break ceilings.

Four teams enter Wednesday with different paths behind them — but the same prize in front of them.

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