UAAP Finals: Gerry Abadiano answers the call as UP forces winner-take-all Game 3 

Game Two of the UAAP Season 88 Finals became a night of reckoning for Gerry Abadiano — and a reminder of why the University of the Philippines trusts its captain when the stakes are highest.

After an opening-game performance that left him searching for rhythm, Abadiano took it upon himself to rewrite the narrative. When the game tightened and possessions grew heavier, the graduating skipper leaned on the one thing that has defined his career in maroon and green: his jumper.

Three straight pull-ups at the most critical stretch steadied the Fighting Maroons and powered them to a tense 66–63 victory over La Salle on Sunday at a packed SM Mall of Asia Arena.

In front of 22,412 roaring fans, UP not only stayed alive — it forced a fitting conclusion to its rivalry with the Green Archers, pushing the finals to a do-or-die Game Three on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Abadiano finished with 17 points and two rebounds, a sharp response to his eight-point outing in Game One. More than the numbers, it was his timing that mattered most, as his buckets halted La Salle’s momentum and gave State U the breathing room it desperately needed down the stretch.

HINDI MAGPAPAHULI!

The UP Fighting Maroons defeated the DLSU Green Archers, 66-63, in Game 2 of the #UAAPSeason88 Men’s Basketball Finals, forcing a do-or-die Game 3 on Wednesday, December 17, 3:30 PM at Smart Araneta Coliseum.#StrengthInMotionHopeInAction pic.twitter.com/DUG77rLfIM

— The UAAP (@uaap_official) December 14, 2025

La Salle had its chance to steal the game, but Vhoris Marasigan’s bold attempt from deep refused to drop. Francis Nnoruka then secured the moment with the rebound — one of his 13 boards on the night — and split his free throws with 3.8 seconds left to seal the win, completing a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.

UP’s response was not limited to its captain. Rey Remogat also erased memories of a quiet opener, knocking down four triples on the way to 12 points. Gani Stevens chipped in eight points and nine rebounds, while Jacob Bayla quietly shaped the outcome with relentless defense, adding six points and five boards while hounding La Salle’s scorers when it mattered most.

On the other side, Game One hero Jacob Cortez led the Archers with 16 points and 14 rebounds, but found far less room to operate under Bayla’s pressure late. Luis Pablo delivered an all-around effort with 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, and Mike Phillips controlled the glass with 14 rebounds to go with eight points.

Marasigan embodied La Salle’s aggression but struggled to convert, finishing 4-of-16 from the field for eight points, six rebounds, and two assists — a tough night that marked the Archers’ first loss to UP this season.

With the series now deadlocked, the Finals head to a decisive Game Three, where momentum, resilience, and poise will decide a championship that neither side is willing to surrender. 

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