A BUNCH OF GAME ONES | UAAP S88 FINAL FOUR AND NCAA S101 SEMIFINALS

I’m salty as hell writing this.

And I mean, f*ck.

The Final Four (or semifinals in NCAA terms) has begun. And while it doesn’t really sting as much for Perpetual and Benilde since they’re in Best-of-3 affairs, and NU is still alive thanks to their twice-to-beat advantage, the same can’t be said for my UST Growling Tigers.

Ugh.

I’ve said this before: I saw the UAAP winner coming from the UP–UST side of the bracket. But right now? I don’t even know what to feel. I’m torn between hoping that whoever gets past the NU–DLSU series shocks UP in the Finals, or wanting UP to win in dominant fashion so I can feel vindicated that UST lost to a truly formidable opponent.

I’m confused.

Very confused.

And then there’s the battle between Collins Akowe and Francis Nnoruka.

Yes, Akowe is still the best FSA left among the Final Four teams, but Nnoruka delivered when it counted the most. Akowe nearly notched a triple-double with his six assists, but his 11 points and 11 rebounds were way below his 16-and-15 norm. Nnoruka, meanwhile, dropped 19 and pulled nine boards—way above his usual output. He broke the defense when it mattered with that fearless layup, and even shut down Nic Cabanero at the rim with that clutch block.

And Harold Alarcon?

What a time to go nuclear.

Sure, he’s had 20-point games this season, but he averages just 11. Him doubling that here was a dagger, especially since UST’s core of Cabanero, Gelo Crisostomo, Akowe, and Kyle Paranada actually produced—just with atrocious percentages.

Forthsky Padrigao went 3-of-13, by the way, and Mark Llemit was limited to just six points.

Anyway, Cabanero could’ve passed instead of challenging Reyland Torres, but you take the shot when you’re that guy. I even thought the game would enter OT when Alarcon almost threw it away during the game's last eight seconds.

But someone had to win, and someone had to lose. And it could have been UST.

That’s the part that stings.

Cabanero indeed balled like hell in his final UAAP game.

Can you be the eleventh member of the 2025 SEA Games roster?

Now that I’ve calmed down—enough—I can look at the rest of the picture.

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LETRAN VERSUS PERPETUAL | TOO MANY OPTIONS

Letran currently leads Perpetual, and honestly, it's insane how Mark Denver Omega and Jun Roque could’ve had more minutes if they had stayed with the Altas.

Letran looks scarier because they just have too many options.

Ever since the Knights figured out that their core should revolve around Titing Manalili, Jimboy Estrada, and Kevin Santos—and added whatever Omega and Roque brought as PBA-bound pieces—they’ve been rolling. The depth is unfair.

Letran's insane firepower is a signal for Perpetual to avoid slipping into double-digit deficits. The Altas thrived in the eliminations because of chemistry, and they need that now more than ever. Mark Gojo Cruz, Patrick Sleat, Cedrick Abis, and John Boral all scored 11 or more. But Shawn Orgo went 0-for-8. Someone else has to rise apart from their core.

For Letran, Manalili and Estrada showed up, but Chad Gammad, Aaron Buensalida, and Nate Montecillo gave quality minutes. Cuajao? Not even throwing him into the “PBA-bound cluster” right now, because he’s playing like a steady veteran.

SAN BEDA VERSUS BENILDE | THE JANTI PROBLEM

Both teams have PBA prospects, but San Beda has something Benilde doesn’t.

Janti F'N Miller.

THIS is exactly why my problem with UAAP FSAs exists. If the archetype is a scoring wing instead of the usual giant rim-protector, the league becomes way more interesting.

Anyway, Miller has scored 16+ in 12 of 15 games. At 6'4 playing the SG/SF position, he is a mismatch nightmare. No one in Benilde can really contain him unless they sacrifice Tony Ynot’s offense for defense.

And if that wasn’t enough, Bryan Sajonia exists. When you worry about Miller, Sajonia hits you with 26. Together, they combined for 55. Then Nygel Gonzales adds 11, and Yukien Andrada chips in eight. Can you imagine Bismarck Lina and Jomel Puno joining in on the action as well?

Benilde needed more from their own stars. Shawn Umali, Justine Sanchez, and Jhomel Ancheta combined for 32, but reigning MVP Allen Liwag and Ynot shot 5-for-26 combined. You’re not surviving a Miller–Sajonia ambush with that.

NU VERSUS DLSU | WIN OR GO HOME

DLSU got Kean Baclaan back, and while he only scored six, his presence changed the dynamic. Mason Amos made his presence felt too. What I liked most was seeing DLSU break away from the “Jacob Cortez or Mike Phillips or bust” offense NU would usually shut down with their system.

This game was different. Cortez, Phillips, EJ Gollena, Vhoris Marasigan, Luis Pablo, JC Macalalag, Amos, Earl Abadam, AND Baclaan all scored six or more.

Meanwhile, Jake Figueroa dropped a game-high 20, but Omar John was the only other NU player in double digits. Yes, they had five others scoring six or more, but clearly, it was La Salle bombarding them from all angles while NU spent the entire game trying to catch up.

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I won’t make fearless forecasts, but I expect Benilde, Perpetual, and NU to fight back. That said, it really feels like we’re heading toward a Letran versus San Beda rivalry recall in the NCAA S101 Finals, and a UP versus DLSU showdown to complete their current trilogy.

And as a UST fan who’s still emotionally unstable… I’m just hoping for a storyline that makes UST’s exit hurt a little less.