La Salle’s Luis Pablo against University of the Philippines’ Francis Nnoruka during the first round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Oct. 18, 2025. The Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons will begin their best-of-three finals duel at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday (Dec. 10, 2025). (UAAP photo)
The fire of one of the UAAP’s most compelling rivalries blazes again as defending champion University of the Philippines and Season 87 titleholder De La Salle University collide in the men’s basketball best-of-three finals beginning Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Game 1 tips off at 4 p.m., renewing a showdown between two powerhouse programs that have split their past two championship duels. UP enters its fifth consecutive finals appearance after finishing second in the eliminations and dispatching University of Santo Tomas in the semifinals. La Salle, meanwhile, stunned top seed National University twice to book its third straight trip to the grand stage.
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, now on his fifth finals campaign since taking the helm in Season 84, reflected on his team’s journey with pride. Starting the season 0-2, the Fighting Maroons weathered early adversity and found their rhythm when it mattered. He said the team’s growth and resilience have made this run especially meaningful, emphasizing his trust in their ability to rise through every challenge.
La Salle coach Topex Robinson, whose Green Archers swept UP in the eliminations, acknowledged the magnitude of facing a program with five consecutive finals appearances. He said the rivalry is grounded in deep respect and that their latest finals meeting offers a challenge his team embraces fully.
In the women’s division, the NU Lady Bulldogs will try to complete back-to-back titles and secure their ninth overall crown when they take on UST in Game 2 of their championship duel at 1 p.m. NU seized a 1-0 series lead after a hard-fought 84-79 win on Sunday, though coach DA Olan stressed the need for sharper focus with UST expected to fight back with intensity after sweeping the eliminations.
The action begins earlier at 11 a.m. in the 16-Under division, where NU–Nazareth School aims to finish off Far Eastern University–Diliman for a championship sweep.