Romwel Anzures

University of the Philippines gunner Harold Alarcon against University of Santo Tomas’ Mark Llemit in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.

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<div style="line-height:1.5"><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/1764760064069UAAP88 MBB- Harold Alarcon-2423.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">University of the Philippines gunner Harold Alarcon against University of Santo Tomas’ Mark Llemit in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final 4. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — For the second consecutive season, University of the Philippines has eliminated University of Santo Tomas to punch its ticket into the UAAP men&#x27;s basketball Finals.</p><p>The Fighting Maroons are headed into the championship stage for the fifth straight season after escaping the Growling Tigers, 82-81, in the Season 88 Final 4 on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.</p><p>Harold Alarcon fired 22 points with two rebounds, Francis Nnoruka notched 19 markers, nine boards, three blocks, and two steals, but none was bigger than Terrence Fortea&#x27;s eight points which included the go-ahead three-pointer in the endgame.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m very proud of our team, responding to that situation down the stretch,&quot; said State U head coach Goldwin Monteverde, whose squad also earned its sixth Finals berth in the last seven seasons.</p><p>UP now awaits the winner of the Final 4 bout between De La Salle University and National University which will be decided on Saturday, 3:30 p.m., still at the Big Dome. </p><p>As the Fighting Maroons faced a 79-81 disadvantage after a Forth Padrigao basket with under a minute left, Fortea drained the go-ahead triple with only 45 ticks left to put UP ahead, 82-81.</p><p>While there was enough time for the España-based squad to answer, Nic Cabañero missed his pair of clean looks just before the Maroons ran out the clock to escape with the one-point win and avoid a 15-point collapse.</p><p>Cabañero finished with 24 points, three rebounds, and three assists in what turned out to be his final UAAP game, while Padrigao capped his collegiate career with six points and four assists.</p><p>Collins Akowe also marked an 11-point, 11-rebound outing with six assists and three blocks, but they could not sustain their 11-to-nothing charge to start the game.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p><strong>UP 82</strong> - Alarcon 22, Nnoruka 19, Remogat 9, Fortea 8, Abadiano 8, Torres 5, Stevens 5, Alter 4, Yñiguez 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Belmonte 0.</p><p><strong>UST 81</strong> - Cabañero 24, Crisostomo 15, Akowe 11, Paranada 10, Padrigao 6, Llemit 6, Acido 4, Buenaflor 4, Estacio 1, Laure 0.</p><p><strong>Quarterscores</strong>: 19-11, 43-36, 69-62, 82-81.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/kvjCiT_CrD0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>University of the Philippines is back in the #UAAP men’s basketball Finals for the fifth straight season.</p>

University of the Philippines is back in the #UAAP men’s basketball Finals for the fifth straight season.

UAAP: UP edges UST in cardiac finish to advance to 5th straight Finals

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UAAP: UP edges UST in cardiac finish to advance to 5th straight Finals

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 03, 2025 07:09 PM PHT

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Updated December 03, 2025 11:22 PM PHT

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