DLSU upsets top-seeded NU to set up UAAP Finals rematch with UP

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

After all the elimination round phase drama, a journey marred by a series of unfortunate injuries and a roller coaster ride through the season, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers were still able to collect a return ticket to a familiar position they’ve been in for the past three UAAP years.

And of course, against a familiar foe.

It’s time to run it back. For all the marbles, it’s DLSU against UP, and it’s UP against DLSU—for the third consecutive year in the UAAP men’s basketball grand finals.

Game 1 is on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Unlike the Fighting Maroons, who only had to eke out a single win against UST due to their twice-to-beat advantage, the Green Archers faced a different fate as they were slated against the National University (NU) Bulldogs—a squad eager to reclaim glory in the collegiate ranks.

Holding a twice-to-beat advantage against last year’s grand finalists, NU found themselves in tidal shock as DLSU completed a sweet 2-0 sweep for the ages, booking another championship series stint after a thrilling 78-73 Game 2 victory during the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball semifinal stage on Dec. 6, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nobody could ask for a better semifinal slugfest than that.

A series of lead changes, NU knocking on the door first with a first-half avalanche, countered by a composed DLSU run in the second half—Game 2 of the UAAP Final Four was bang for the buck, highlighted also by the chess match between two talented coaching staffs.

However, it was the Green Archers who proved to be the hungrier team, led by no other than their superstar, Jacob Cortez, who replicated his heroics when he helped DLSU save their season during the final eliminator match against Ateneo.

Cortez buried haymaker after haymaker and became a one-man wrecking machine for the Green Archers. After 40 minutes of UAAP basketball, the son of collegiate legend Mike Cortez tallied a new career-high of 29 points, built from an efficient 11-of-16 shooting from the field.

Down by five points in the final 4:32 of the game, Cortez kicked off DLSU’s spirited comeback with a huge 3-pointer from the left elbow that trimmed their deficit to just a deuce, 64-66.

Both schools figured in a mano-a-mano affair in the next two minutes, with NU taking a brief lead off Jake Figueroa’s baskets—only to be answered by a Mike Phillips tip-in and an and-one play from Vhon Marasigan for another deadlock at 69-all.

Figueroa broke the tie with a strong move to the basket for a 71-69 NU advantage, but the cold-blooded Cortez put DLSU back in the driver’s seat with a clinical step-back 3-pointer from the left baseline, 72-71.

Cortez wasn’t done doing damage and converted the biggest pull-up perimeter jumper of the game—cashing in a clutch middy that gave the Green Archers a 74-72 breathing room with only 56 seconds remaining in the do-or-die game.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, their next two offensive possessions rimmed out, allowing the Green Archers to ice the game with another strong finish to reach the finish line of UAAP Season 88.

“It was a really nip-and-tuck affair, but these guys really showed up, they manned up, and they came out smarter in the second half,” said DLSU head coach Topex Robinson during the postgame press conference.

Aside from Cortez’s individual brilliance, the Green Archers also received a load of contributions from their wards, led by Earl Abadam’s 14-point production and Marasigan’s 10 markers.

Phillips continued his solid streak for DLSU, capping off the massive Final Four dub with an all-around stat line of eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“If you’re going to define how our season went, it’s something we should be grateful for. We let our faith guide us in this challenging season,” added Robinson.

After the impressive sweep, the Green Archers will only have several days left to recover before returning to the UAAP hardwood to kick off their grand finals revenge tour against the UP Fighting Maroons.