Camille Naredo

Action between La Salle and National University in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final 4, December 3, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

De La Salle University Green Archers  overcomes NU Bulldogs at the UAAP final four game at the Araneta Coliseum in Araneta City in Quezon City on December 3, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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UAAP Season 88

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/17649194278549Z9A8992.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Action between La Salle and National University in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball Final 4, December 3, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Action between La Salle and National University in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball Final 4, December 3, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- De La Salle University and National University will face off for the fourth and final time in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball tournament -- this time with a ticket to the championship round on the line.</p><p>The Green Archers, finally at full force, stunned the top-seeded Bulldogs on Wednesday, 88-77, to force a do-or-die Final 4 showdown.</p><p>The winner of Saturday&#x27;s 3:30 p.m. clash will face defending champion University of the Philippines in the best-of-three Finals beginning Wednesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/3/uaap-full-force-la-salle-flexes-might-pushes-national-u-to-do-or-die-1552">READ: Full-force La Salle flexes might, pushes National U to do-or-die</a></div><p>If La Salle gets the job done, they will become the first fourth seed in six years to advance to the UAAP men&#x27;s basketball Finals. In 2019, University of Santo Tomas took down University of the Philippines to advance to the championship phase; the 2013 UST and 2014 NU teams also reached the Finals as fourth-ranked squads.</p><p>After a rocky 2-3 start plagued by injuries and suspensions, the Green Archers are now on the cusp of securing a third consecutive championship berth and a chance to reclaim the throne lost to the Fighting Maroons last season.</p><p>&quot;It wasn&#x27;t given to us. We earned it. And earning it together, it&#x27;s really big to lose Kean (Baclaan) and Mason (Amos) at the start of the season. But again, we&#x27;re just fortunate. We&#x27;re just blessed to have these players that are really willing to give up their own agenda heading into the season just to contribute,&quot; said De La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.</p><p>The Bulldogs are now 0-3 all-time versus the Green Archers in the Final Four, with their only previous matchups coming in 2001 and 2023—both won by De La Salle as the higher-ranked team.</p><p>NU head coach Jeff Napa remains optimistic about his team&#x27;s chances of reaching its first Finals appearance since ending a 60-year championship drought in 2014.</p><p>&quot;Given naman na &#x27;yon &#x27;eh na may psychological edge sila (Green Archers). Kailangan lang namin kung paano namin iha-handle yung ganitong situation at challenge. Still positive pa rin, may challenge &#x27;eh, given na &#x27;yan,&quot; said Napa.</p><p>Napa hopes that his supporting cast will step up on Saturday after Jake Figueroa posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in a losing effort.</p><p>The Fighting Maroons advanced to the Finals for a fifth straight season after narrowly defeating the Growling Tigers, 82-81, last Wednesday. UP lost twice to De La Salle during the elimination round but prevailed over NU in both of their meetings this season.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/3/uaap-up-edges-ust-in-cardiac-finish-to-advance-to-5th-straight-finals-1909">READ: UP edges UST in cardiac finish to advance to 5th straight Finals</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></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/0pOgY6MCXAk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/hF0oo0406eg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>De La Salle University and National University will face off for the fourth and final time in the #UAAPSeason88 men's basketball tournament -- this time with a ticket to the championship round on the line.</p>

De La Salle University and National University will face off for the fourth and final time in the #UAAPSeason88 men's basketball tournament -- this time with a ticket to the championship round on the line.

UAAP: La Salle, National U in do-or-die for last spot in Season 88 Finals

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UAAP: La Salle, National U in do-or-die for last spot in Season 88 Finals

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Published Dec 06, 2025 06:00 AM PHT

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