John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

UP Fighting Maroons confront La Salle Green Archers at the Finals games of the UAAP Season 88 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on December 10, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

LA SALLE

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17653590302049Z9A2081.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">De La Salle Green Archers during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on December 10, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— De La Salle University is one step closer towards its goal of claiming the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball crown.</p><p>This, as the Green Archers outlasted University of the Philippines, 74-70, to draw first blood in the best-of-three Finals on Wednesday in front of 18,210 spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</p><p>Jacob Cortez, with his dad Mike watching in the audience, drained the dagger triple with 27.4 seconds left on the clock to pull away from the Fighting Maroons, 74-70—which turned out to be the final score—just after the defending champions came within one after a Harold Alarcon basket.</p><p>Vhoris Marasigan and Mike Phillips both completely missed their trip to the charity line following duty fouls from the Katipunan ballers, but the Fighting Maroons could not make them pay as Alarcon and Terrence Fortea&#x27;s attempts from the arc went wide.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/9/up-la-salle-iii-history-redemption-and-glory-at-stake-in-uaap-trilogy-2030"><strong>READ: UP–La Salle III: History, redemption, and glory at stake in UAAP trilogy</strong></a></div><p>Before Cortez&#x27;s clutch heroics, Luis Pablo kept the Green Archers alive with key plays in the fourth quarter.</p><p>La Salle survived Alarcon&#x27;s 34-point explosion, with Cortez leading the pack with 21 points and four rebounds.</p><p>&quot;It was really a fierce battle between two competitors, and knowing this is gonna be something that will be so emotionally-packed, we&#x27;re just glad and fortunate and blessed that we were able to sustain the onslaught of Harold Alarcon,&quot; said coach Topex Robinson during the postgame press conference.</p><p>Robinson went on to commend guard Kean Baclaan, who backstopped Cortez on the wing and gave the latter the much-needed rest throughout the game.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/10/uaap-jacob-cortez-eager-to-replicate-what-dad-mike-did-for-la-salle-2001"><strong>READ: UAAP: Jacob Cortez eager to replicate what dad Mike did for La Salle</strong></a></div><p>&quot;The reason Jacob was fresh was because Kean really gave us good support. We were able to rest Jacob for a long time on the bench because Kean was delivering also with what was expected of Kean,&quot; he said.</p><p>For his part, Baclaan had nine markers and six dimes, Doy Dungo stepped up and totaled 15 points and two steals, and Phillips had nine rebounds and seven points.</p><p>Francis Nnoruka was the only other UP player in double-digit territory with 13 points to go with six rebounds.</p><p>The Taft cagers aim to close out the series in Game 2 on Sunday, December 14, at the same venue.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/klnyg9GHpYA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>De La Salle University is on the verge of winning the #UAAPSeason88 men's basketball crown.</p>

De La Salle University is on the verge of winning the #UAAPSeason88 men's basketball crown.

La Salle on cusp of reclaiming UAAP crown after drawing first blood vs UP

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

La Salle on cusp of reclaiming UAAP crown after drawing first blood vs UP

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 10, 2025 06:31 PM PHT

|

Updated December 10, 2025 09:48 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

basketball

UAAP basketball

UAAP Season 88

University of the Philippines

UP Fighting Maroons

De La Salle University

De La Salle Green Archers

absnews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.