UAAP Report Card: First Impressions Are Here
We’re back to school, dear students of the game.
The first two playdates of UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball are in the history books, and now, we have a glimpse of what all eight teams look like.
A couple of games don’t tell us everything about a UAAP squad, but they can tell us who came prepared for the first day of class.
In other words, it’s time for the first UAAP report card of the season. Don’t cover your eyes—the grades are in.
UST Growling Tigers
The Grade: B+
I wouldn’t say that the difference between UST’s two games was night and day. More like, “high-ceiling team starts to fulfill its potential.”
In both slugfests against UP and La Salle, the Growling Tigers outperformed their opponent in offensive boards and second chance points. UST’s might in the shaded lane offsets weaknesses like turnovers—they had 19 errors compared to the Green Archers’ 13 last Wednesday—and 3-point shooting (32.4% in the loss to UP, 26.3% in the win over DLSU).
Oh, and here’s another sign of character growth for the boys from España: They were all over the place in the fourth quarter of the UP game, but in the final stretch of the duel with the defending champions, the Tigers put in a better effort to dump the ball inside to Collins Akowe for high-percentage looks. Evidence of learning, that is.
Honor Roll
Is it just me, or is Amiel Acido starting to look like Nic Cabañero? Maybe it’s the headband. Or the muscular frame. Or, perhaps, Acido is looking more and more comfortable as a primary scoring option. That 19-7-7 stat line against La Salle is—how should I say this—King Tiger material.
Until further notice, however, that title belongs to Collins Akowe. Trust the big man to find ways to get his offense going, but his defense in the paint could be his most valuable trait for the Tigers. Late in the DLSU game, Jacob Cortez got the switch on Akowe, who moved his feet impeccably and used his towering frame to deny Cortez a basket that would have turned the tide.
Homework
Hey, I can’t believe I went this deep into a UST recap without mentioning Mark Llemit. After turning in 19 points on 7-for-15 FG shooting against UP, Llemit looked more like a facilitator than a scorer last Wednesday, tallying six points and eight assists in the La Salle matchup. I think UST should consistently give Llemit an abundance of touches. He showed in the preseason that he can take over games in the clutch, but the combo guard will be hard-pressed to do that if he doesn’t build rhythm in the first three quarters.
DLSU Green Archers
The Grade: B+
From an entertainment perspective, the De La Salle Green Archers have put on two thrilling performances in the first week of UAAP action. I’m fairly certain, however, that coach Topex Robinson would rather see his boys put away opponents with a comfortable lead instead of getting into cardiac affairs.
Against NU, the Green Archers had a sizable advantage in these areas: bench scoring (AKA the Joaquin Tovera show), points off turnovers, and transition scoring. La Salle’s performance, however, dipped in all three of these categories when they lost to the Growling Tigers three days later. Tovera went from a 22-point explosion to a four-point effort; and the team as a whole couldn’t maximize scoring opportunities off miscues and fastbreak situations.
La Salle gets credit for coming through in the endgame against the Bulldogs. But they took a step back when they faltered down the stretch in the UST game.
Honor Roll
Quick, who’s the only Green Archer to put up double-digit scoring in both of DLSU’s games last week? None other than Luis Pablo, who is showing fine form as Jacob Cortez’s no. 1 pick-and-roll option. In DLSU’s first two games, Pablo is averaging 13.0 ppg on 12-for-16 shooting from the field, along with 5.0 rpg and 2.5 bpg. Pablo’s footwork and finishes at the rim are a thing of beauty, and his team will need every bit of scoring that he can give them in this new era of La Salle basketball.
Homework
This new era, of course, is the post-Mike Phillips chapter. In their first two games without Motor Mike, La Salle has struggled on the glass, getting outrebounded 54-36 by NU and 50-33 by UST. Clearly, the defending champions need to find ways to win the rebounding battle. If they fail in this regard, cardiac games will become the norm as teams get to control game pace and find more chances to score against DLSU.
Adamson Soaring Falcons
The Grade: B
In the latest episode of “Nash Racela Finds a Way,” the Adamson Soaring Falcons rally from a flat start to take a 56-53 win over FEU on opening weekend. Adamson’s performance in the first half was nothing to write home about, but when they cranked up the aggressiveness on the defensive end in the final 20 minutes, they put themselves in a position to hand the host school a humiliating loss.
By “humiliating,” I mean holding FEU to 23.1% FG shooting and 20.0% 3-point shooting in the second half. Throw in the 12 turnovers forced by Adamson’s pesky hands and blitzing bodies, and you have a recipe for a comeback win.
Honor Roll
Watch out, folks: Matthew Montebon is going to have a solid career as a pro. With Cedrick Manzano leaving the Falcons’ nest last year, the path is clear for Montebon to become the undisputed top guy in Nash Racela’s lineup. In the FEU game, Montebon set the tone on both ends of the floor, scoring 18 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep while also tallying four steals.
Also, it’s nice to meet you, Mat Edding. The Zamboanga native and former Baby Falcon came up big in the fourth quarter, scoring six of his 10 points in this final frame. Edding, by the way, outscored kuya Matty Erolon, kuya Manu Anabo, and kuya Ray Allen Torres. Nice going, kid.
Homework
Calling the attention of AJ Fransman, Earl Medina, Jireh Tumaneng, and Allen Perez—what are you all waiting for? Adamson needs to find their identity on offense, and these four prized recruits are all equipped to make a difference on the scoring end. Against FEU, they combined for a grand total of zero points. I have three words, boys: unlock Adamson’s depth.
FEU Tamaraws
The Grade: B-
This is the school that gets the “day and night” adage. Seriously, the difference between FEU’s first-half production and second-half collapse is baffling.
In the first 20 minutes of the brand new UAAP season, the Tamaraws were doing enough to keep Adamson at bay. They shot 32.5% in the first half, yes, but they were getting extra possessions by crashing the offensive glass and forcing the Falcons to cough up the ball. Plus, graduating guard Jorick Bautista was efficient from deep, making three of his six 3-point attempts.
And then, the second half happened. Bautista took four 3s and made zero. As the Falcons turned up the intensity on defense, FEU found themselves in disarray, turning the ball over at an alarming rate and making poor decisions with their shot-selections. FEU’s offense was so inefficient that they didn’t log their first points in the third quarter till the 3:44 mark (a Mo Konateh free throw); and it took them nearly five minutes to get their score moving in the fourth quarter. Yikes.
Honor Roll
As terribly as FEU played in that second half, there was a silver lining by the name of Cabs Cabonilas. One of the hottest prospects in the 2026 offseason, Cabonilas was a statistical leader in his very first UAAP collegiate game. On one hand, the former Juniors MVP tied Janrey Pasaol’s 11-point outing to lead the team in scoring. On the other hand, Cabonilas’ tally of 12 rebounds outdid the combined outputs of Konateh (three boards) and Kirby Mongcopa (eight rebounds). Let that sink in.
Homework
Now is no time to panic for the Tamaraws—it’s just the first game, after all—but they do need to review the tape of that second half versus Adamson. Above all else, this FEU squad needs to stay composed amidst defensive pressure and the stress that comes from the opposing team making a run. Those two things will happen over and over again, and if the Tamaraws want to make it back to the Final Four, they’ll have to show better poise.
UE Red Warriors
The Grade: C+
The UE Red Warriors are facing immense pressure to tally their first win in a long, long time. Unfortunately, that pressure continued to mount after they dropped their first two games in Season 89.
What went wrong for UE in the 27-point loss to Ateneo and the 20-point rout at the hands of NU? A lot of things. Their defense was lackluster, their outside shooting was poor, and their effort on the boards was disappointing. Still, there are signs of hope: In the game against ADMU, the Red Warriors had the edge in fastbreak points (17-11) and they forced the Blue Eagles to commit 19 turnovers.
Honor Roll
Toper Lagat, we see you. The former Junior Red Warrior was UE’s lifeline on offense, averaging 13.0 ppg on 34.5% shooting from the field. Lagat, a 5-foot-11 spitfire guard, is the spark that the Red Warriors need as they try to get back to their winning ways. I also like the hustle shown by FSA JM Edoukou, who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and five steals in the Ateneo game.
Homework
It’s simple: Start with defense, boys. You’re the first UAAP team to give up 56 points in a half this season. Let other teams be the next, and allow your defense to fuel your scoring.
NU Bulldogs
The Grade: B+
“Balanced” is a nice word to describe the NU Bulldogs’ offense, but my attention is drawn more towards their ability to dominate the shaded lane. In the Bulldogs’ first two games—a nail-biter against La Salle and a blowout win over UE—points in the paint were in their favor, as well as offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
The bigs are flexing their muscles, the guards are prolific with their shot-making, and the FSA situation has stabilized with a healthy Mo Diassana in harness. Why isn’t NU sporting a 2-0 record, then? Turnovers were their undoing against the defending champions, as bad passes got in the way of the Bulldogs’ comeback attempt on more than one occasion. NU had 18 turnovers to La Salle’s 10; the Bulldogs committed 10 fewer errors when they won against UE. Go figure.
Honor Roll
NU’s trio of big men is a force to be reckoned with. Mo Diassana, Kenshin Padrones, and PJ Palacielo are the anchors of the Bulldogs’ interior attack, crashing the glass and consistently scoring at the rim. Someone come up with a name for this group, please. Extra Rice 3.0?
Homework
It’s a small sample size, but the turnover story should be one of NU’s primary concerns moving forward. If the Bulldogs can limit their errors, they can run Jeff Napa’s system more accurately.
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Grade: B+
As soon as I heard that Louie Alas would be calling the shots for Ateneo, my mind immediately went to the vaunted full-court press of teams like the Letran Knights and the Alaska Aces (where Alas was an assistant under coach Alex Compton). Sure enough, the Blue Eagles put on a display of aggressive defense in their first two outings, putting pressure on their opponents from one side of the court to another.
Forcing 18 turnovers and getting 12 steals in the UE game is impressive, and against UP, those numbers went up—20 turnovers and 15 steals, to be exact. The Blue Eagles, however, looked more vulnerable when the Fighting Maroons started figuring out counters to their full-court defense. Moving forward, Ateneo will have to learn how to win consistently when the pace slows down.
Honor Roll
Mark my words: Kieffer Alas will make his senior Gilas debut in the next 10 years. Blessed with hops and great shooting mechanics, Alas (18.5 ppg on 48.1% FG shooting) has delivered the goods for Ateneo in his first two Season 89 outings. He is, in a word, a blockbuster attraction.
Sharing the starting backcourt with Alas is third-year guard Jared Bahay. Hampered by injuries last season, J-House is looking unimpeded this time around, making shots all over the floor. Fun fact: Bahay missed just one of his eight 2-point FG attempts across two games. Now that’s locked in.
Homework
The Blue Eagles need to fine-tune their halfcourt execution. When they’re not forcing a flurry of turnovers, Ateneo has to settle down, move the ball around, and constantly look for good—scratch that, better—shots.
UP Fighting Maroons
The Grade: A
The UP Fighting Maroons are the only team to amass a 2-0 record after the first two playdates of Season 89. For that, they get the highest grade on our first report card.
Were the Fighting Maroons perfect in their first two contests? Hardly. In both the UST game and the Ateneo game, they let their opponents score at a solid clip in the first half. But, this early, UP is establishing an identity as a lethal third-quarter team—holding UST to 14 points off the halftime break and stifling Ateneo to 10 points in the same period.
Going hand in hand with UP’s defensive adjustments was their scoring depth. In their two wins, at least six players scored seven points or more; and, as a collective unit, the Maroons shot around 49.0% from the field on both occasions.
Honor Roll
Before I cite any player’s name here, I first have to give coach Goldwyn Monteverde and defensive coordinator Tom Chua their flowers. Lining up interior defenders to deny Collins Akowe easy looks at the rim? Turning the tables on Ateneo with some pressure defense of their own? None of that happens without the multi-titled coaching duo on the Maroons’ bench.
The blueprint laid out by Monteverde and Chua was effectively translated by the two-way play of Francis Nnoruka, the combo guard effectiveness of Rey Remogat and Arvie Poyos, and the hustle of James Payosing. #NewlywedEnergy
Homework
We all know Jacob Bayla’s impact goes beyond the stats sheet, but the way he was playing in the offseason, the third-year forward looked primed to take his scoring to the next level. If UP can unlock Bayla’s offense, maybe he can stay on the floor for more than 14 minutes in a game.
