UAAP Week 3 Recap: Ateneo survives La Salle surge, UP breaks Espana curse, UST and FEU bounce back

Week 3 of UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball was packed with storylines — from Ateneo fending off a historic comeback to UP conquering its Espana drought, while UST and FEU rediscovered winning form.

Ateneo-La Salle Rivalry Lives Up to the Hype

The Blue Eagles (3-0) raced to a commanding 68-38 lead entering the fourth quarter before the Green Archers (2-2) unleashed a 19-0 run that nearly turned the game on its head. Mike Phillips anchored La Salle with a massive stat line of 17 points, 20 rebounds — 14 of them offensive — plus six assists. 

Jacob Cortez and EJ Gollena joined the late rally, trimming the gap to just five with 30 seconds left. But clutch free throws from Shawn Tuano, who scored nine of his 15 points in the final frame, and Andrew Bongo iced an 81-74 win, preserving Ateneo’s spotless record and snapping a rivalry skid dating back to Season 86.

UP Stuns NU in Espana

 The Fighting Maroons (2-2) snapped a three-game losing spell at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion by toppling previously unbeaten National University, 66-59. Down 13 in the third, UP leaned on Francis Nnoruka’s 14 points, Miguel Yniguez’s timely shooting, and Harold Alarcon’s fourth-quarter heroics to flip the script. 

Alarcon tallied seven of his eight points in the clutch, while NU’s Kean Enriquez paced the Bulldogs with 16 in a losing effort. The result handed NU (3-1) its first loss of the season and ended its five-game win streak in Espana.

Here are the updated team standings in the #UAAPSeason88 Men’s, Women’s, and U16 Basketball Tournaments after the games this weekend (October 4-5) at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion and the SM Mall of Asia Arena.#StrengthInMotionHopeInAction pic.twitter.com/JiqkY6EnAf

— The UAAP (@uaap_official) October 5, 2025

UST Outguns UE in Shootout

 The Growling Tigers (3-1) shrugged off a shaky first half by detonating for 52 second-half points in a 111-99 win over the still winless UE Red Warriors (0-4). Nic Cabañero led with 22 points and eight assists, while Collins Akowe bounced back from illness with a monster 18-point, 17-rebound outing. Forthsky Padrigao also shined with 18 points and six steals. UE battled behind John Abate’s 27 points and Dray Caoile’s 23, but missed key rotation player Wello Lingolingo due to illness.

FEU Finally Breaks Through

 Far Eastern University (1-3) secured its first win of the season with a gritty 64-58 triumph over Adamson (1-3). Gambian center Mo Konateh stamped his class with 18 points and 21 rebounds, while Janrey Pasaol drilled a corner triple that killed the Falcons’ late surge. Adamson trimmed an 11-point deficit to just three behind Mathew Montebon’s 14 points, but faltered down the stretch as FEU’s defense held firm.

Looking Ahead

The spotlight now shifts to Wednesday’s much-anticipated “Battle of Katipunan” between Ateneo and UP at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. With the Blue Eagles unbeaten and the Fighting Maroons surging, the clash could reshape the early-season landscape of UAAP Season 88. 

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