ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider Cortez, Pablo deliver as Archers shoot down Maroons to inch closer to UAAP crown

Cortez, Pablo deliver as Archers shoot down Maroons to inch closer to UAAP crown

Published Dec 10, 2025 06:05 pm

At A Glance

  • Luis Pablo delivered the goods on both ends before Jacob Cortez sealed the match with a three-point dagger as De La Salle University pulled off a 74-70 escape over University of the Philippines in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals Wednesday evening, Dec. 10.
Jacob Cortez picks up Luis Pablo left to power La Salle over UP in UAAP Finals Game 1. (UAAP Media)
Jacob Cortez picks up Luis Pablo left to power La Salle over UP in UAAP Finals Game 1. (UAAP Media)
Luis Pablo delivered the goods on both ends before Jacob Cortez sealed the match with a three-point dagger as De La Salle University pulled off a 74-70 escape over University of the Philippines in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals Wednesday evening, Dec. 10.
As expected, the trilogy lived up to the hype with 18,210 in attendance at the Mall of Asia Arena, and by all indications the series could be decided, if not punctuated, up to the last possession.
The Green Archers rose to the occasion as Cortez picked up what Pablo had ignited in the fourth frame, hitting a clutch trey with 27.4 seconds remaining to create the slim lead they protected until the final buzzer.
The Maroons, who leaned on Harold Alarcon’s 34-point explosion, tried to steal the match but ultimately failed as the Archers flaunted a defensive masterclass anchored on Pablo's heart and hustle.
The Taft-based squad has the golden opportunity to close out its best-of-three finals series against State U and reclaim the crown over the reigning champion Maroons in Game 2 this Sunday, Dec. 14, at the same venue.
“One of the big bonus with our team, we’re getting closer to God, kahit saanman tayo kakapit we just make sure we do it together,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson, “We know it’s going to be a challenge in the our next… that’s us we have to be ready.”
Cortez, who was also the game-changer in their semifinal win over No. 1 seed National University, starred anew with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Doy Dungo, meanwhile, impressed in the earlier part of the game and tallied 15 points in 15 minutes of action.
Kean Baclaan added nine points, while Mike Phillips, Vhoris Marasigan and Pablo logged seven points apiece.
Alarcon, apart from his 34 points, posted two rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Francis Nnoruka chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
Alarcon and Nnoruka were the only double-digit scorers for the Maroons, with Gerry Abadiano, Reyland Torres, and Terrence Fortea adding eight, seven, and five points, respectively.
Noy Remogat had a dismal night off three points, but managed to haul six rebounds, dish six assists, and add two steals.
The scores:
DLSU 74 – Cortez 21, Dungo 15, Baclaan 9, Phillips 7, Pablo 7, Marasigan 7, Macalalag 6, Abadam 2, Gollena 0, Amos 0, Nwankwo 0.
UP 70 – Alarcon 34, Nnoruka 13, Abadiano 8, Torres 7, Fortea 5, Remogat 3, Belmonte 0, Stevens 0, Bayla 0, Yñiguez 0, Felicilda 0, Alter 0.
Quarters: 25-24, 33-36, 53-58, 74-70.

Related Tags

UP Fighting Maroons La Salle Green Archers UAAP Season 88
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.