DLSU completes UAAP elimination round sweep of UP

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Despite struggling the whole season, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers continued to have the defending champions’ number.

On Nov. 22, 2025, DLSU brought out the brooms and completed an elimination round sweep of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 87-82, during the second round of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down by as much as 16 points in the first quarter, the Green Archers didn’t rattle and slowly chipped away at their deficit, thanks to a collective offensive effort from Mike Phillips, Vhoris Marasigan, Earl Abadam, and Jacob Cortez.

After DLSU pulled to within a single digit, the scheduled matchup immediately turned into a dogfight, with the Green Archers completing the comeback at the end of the third for a one-point lead.

Both squads figured in a mano-a-mano chess match, with UP banking on their guards’ three-point shooting, while DLSU cashed in on their perimeter jumpers.

It all came down to the wire when the Fighting Maroons bagged a slim three-point lead in the final 3:58 of the game, 74-71.

Eager to hack out the win to keep their UAAP Final Four hopes alive, Cortez kicked off DLSU’s comeback with a personal five-point run, scoring on a layup and banking a shot from downtown to put the Green Archers back in the driver’s seat, 76-74.

It was a DLSU masterclass on how to close thrilling games as they completely outplayed UP in the most crucial stretch of the final period, capping off the gutsy dub with a 16-point burst in the final three minutes of the game.

Picking up where Cortez left off was the duo of Abadam and Marasigan, as they cashed in back-to-back perimeter daggers that helped DLSU protect their cushion until the final buzzer sounded.

Ilonggo guard Gerry Abadiano tried to lift the UP community’s spirits after scoring a layup on the other end, but Abadam left the reigning UAAP kings stunned after hitting the biggest shot of the game that put DLSU ahead by seven points, 85-78, in the remaining 28 seconds of the rivalry game.

Phillips spearheaded DLSU’s 16-point comeback with an all-around effort of 21 points and 14 rebounds, while the trio of Marasigan, Abadam, and Cortez chipped in 17, 14, and 14, respectively.

It was also a welcome sight for the Green Archers as Mason Amos, who was diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), is now all systems go, playing his first game back after almost two months of absence.

The Green Archers will aim for a crucial win on Nov. 26 to determine their UAAP Final Four fate, against the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, who are also reeling to end the elimination round on a high note.