Basketball
UP crushes La Salle, locks up No. 1 seed in Filoil UAAP Group
University of the Philippines continued to flex its depth and frontcourt firepower, dismantling rival De La Salle University, 98-69, to stay unbeaten in the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Monday in San Juan.
With the victory, the Fighting Maroons improved to 5-0 and locked up the No. 1 seed in the UAAP Group ahead of their final elimination-round assignment against Far Eastern University.
UP imposed its will from the opening tip, using its size to dictate the pace on both ends of the floor. The Fighting Maroons stormed to a 9-2 start before widening the gap to 40-23 late in the second quarter, setting the tone for a one-sided affair.
Holding a comfortable 48-33 lead at halftime, UP left no room for a comeback in the third period. Behind the combined efforts of Veejay Pre, Francis Nnoruka, and Chicco Briones, the Fighting Maroons unleashed a decisive run that ballooned the advantage to 77-44 with just over a minute remaining in the quarter.
La Salle never recovered as UP dominated the interior throughout the contest. The team outscored the Green Archers 64-24 in points in the paint while also owning a commanding 50-33 advantage on the boards.
Assistant coach Christian Luanzon credited the team’s size but emphasized that capitalizing on that advantage remains the players’ responsibility.
“Definitely. But it’s still up to them to take advantage,” said Luanzon when asked if UP’s size would be its biggest weapon moving forward. “Today, ang laki ng bagay ng first half, because we set the tone.”
Nnoruka paced the Fighting Maroons with 16 points and four rebounds, while Briones finished with 14 points behind three triples. Pre added 13 points and six rebounds, and the backcourt duo of Rey Remogat and Joaquin Tovera combined for 13 points and 11 assists.
The loss snapped La Salle’s four-game winning streak, dropping the Green Archers to 4-3 while remaining in third place in the UAAP Group behind 5-1 National University.
Jacob Cortez led the Taft-based squad with 20 points and nine rebounds.
In the NCAA Group, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Mapúa University strengthened their bids for the top seed with separate victories.
Letran turned back San Beda University, 67-63, behind another standout performance from Titing Manalili, who finished with 20 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Kevin Santos provided solid support with 13 points and five rebounds as the Knights improved to 7-1.
Mapúa matched Letran’s record after defeating the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 67-58.
Lance Nitura starred against his former high school, tallying 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Yam Concepcion added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
The Cardinals climbed into a three-way tie for first place in the NCAA standings alongside Letran and Jose Rizal University.
San Beda slipped to 6-2 and fell out of contention for the No. 1 seed despite 12 points from Dominic Sarigumba and 11 points each from Zed Etulle and RC Calimag.
Perpetual dropped to 3-5, with Mark Gojo Cruz providing its lone double-digit output after finishing with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Scores:
First Game:
Mapua 67 – Nitura L 20, Concepcion 12, Nitura C 8, Diaz 6, Igliane 5, Liwanag 5, Cuenco 4, Pascual 4, Reyes 2, Lazarte 1, Ryan 0, Lloren 0
Perpetual Help 58 – Gojo Cruz 10, Maglupay 8, Casinillo 7, Orgo 6, Caugiran 6, Cristino 4, Duremdes 4, Gelsano 3, Pagulayan 3, Danag 3, Borja 2, Tulabut 2, Roluna 0, Montemayor 0, Baldoria 0
Quarterscores: 13-16, 35-33, 57-51, 67-58.
Second Game:
Letran 67 – Manalili 20, Santos 13, Estrada 10, Gammad 8, Cargo 6, Hugo 5, Montecillo 5, Buensalida 0, Silorio 0, Sena 0, Villanueva 0, Tapenio 0
San Beda 63 – Sarigumba 12, Calimag RC 11, Etulle 11, Ugaddan 9, Calimag Ri 6, Songcuya 6, Efron 4, Dabao 2, Culdora 2, Bonzalida 0, Jamora 0, Jalbuena 0
Quarterscores: 21-20, 37-36, 52-49, 67-63.
Third Game:
UP 98 – Nnoruka 16, Briones 14, Pre 13, Alter 9, Stevens 9, Remogat 7, Tovera 6, Bayla 5, Poyos 5, Ogana 4, Dimaculangan 3, Yniguez 3, Coronel 2, Franco 2, Palanca 0, Tan 0
DLSU 69 – Cortez 20, Macalalag 9, Cibull 9, Pablo 8, Marasigan 7, Dungo 4, Amos 4, Gagate 3, Daep 3, Abadam 2, Sharma 0, Quines 0, Melencio 0
Quarterscores: 24-15, 48-33, 81-49, 98-69.
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Joaquin Tovera has found his new collegiate home.
Days after announcing his decommitment from the University of the Philippines, the reigning FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers Most Valuable Player has committed to De La Salle University, being eligible starting UAAP Season 89.
For the 18-year-old guard, the decision went beyond basketball.
“At the end of the day, family was the biggest reason behind my decision,” Tovera said.
“I’ve always been closest to the people who have supported me since day one, and knowing I’ll be in an environment where I can be near them gives me a lot of peace and confidence. That support system means everything to me, and I believe it will help me become a better player and an even better person.”
Tovera has deep connections with the Cortez family, having previously played alongside Mikey Cortez during their time with Tumakbo Basketball.
(C) DLSU
The relationship extends beyond the court, with La Salle legend Mike Cortez being the cousin of Gregg Rivera, Tovera’s uncle, making the Green Archers a familiar environment for the young playmaker.
His commitment comes just days after he revealed that he was reopening his recruitment despite seeing action for the Fighting Maroons during the 2026 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
During his brief stint with UP, Tovera contributed across three games, tallying six points, five assists, and two steals against De La Salle. He followed with seven points and three assists versus Far Eastern University, before making his first start against Mapua in the quarterfinals.
He also suited up for Gilas Pilipinas Boys in the same tournament, averaging 18.5 points and 7.0 assists per contest.
Now set to wear the green and white, Tovera is eager to begin the next chapter of his basketball journey.
“I’m really excited to join De La Salle University and become part of such a proud basketball program,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to learning from the coaches, competing with my new teammates, and doing everything I can to help us succeed. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Despite his move, Tovera stressed that he leaves UP with nothing but appreciation for the Fighting Maroons.
“I’ll always be grateful to UP for welcoming me into the program and believing in me,” he said.
“The coaches, my teammates, and everyone behind the team treated me with so much respect, and I’ll always appreciate the opportunity they gave me. I have nothing but gratitude for my time there and wish UP nothing but success moving forward.”
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- JKL Lady Dolphins 44-68 JT Lady Jaguars (0-2)
JT Lady Jaguars swept the defending champions, JKL Lady Dolphins, to secure a semifinal slot.
JT Lady Jaguars secured a well-deserved 68-44 victory over JKL Lady Dolphins in game two of the best-of-three National Basketball League quarterfinals at YMCA Court, Wandegeya, on Sunday.
The Lady Jaguars came out of the blocks early as they limited the Lady Dolphins to only six points before opening up a 15-point (21-6) lead at the end of the opening period.
The Lady Jaguars kept the foot on the gas pedal thus extending the lead to 21 points by halftime before eventually securing a 24-point victory.
This brings an end to the Lady Dolphins’ struggling campaign, where they lost most of their stars, thus resorting to upcoming talents.
However, they endured a tough spell and made it to the playoffs after finishing eighth. The Lady Dolphins’ dominance comes to an end after three-year run of collecting trophies comes to an end.
Sarah Ageno recorded a double-double, dropping 13 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Priscillar Nambogo (23 points) and Maimuna Nabbosa (12 points) joined with double digits.
On the other hand, only Tamasha Nsubuga (13 points), Florence Ogundha (10 rebounds), and Blessing Vandelum (10 rebounds) managed to reach double digits for the Lady Dolphins.
The post NBL Playoffs: JT Lady Jaguars sweep defending champions appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Basketball
Afril Bernardino’s 20-20 masterpiece keeps Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire’s WMPBL title defense alive
With its bid for a second straight championship on the line, Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire responded in dominant fashion, routing Akari-Rizal, 83-60, on Sunday night at the Paco Arena to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Finals.
The Sparks struck first by scoring the game’s opening five points, but the Valkyries quickly seized control with a devastating 26-4 run to close the opening quarter. They took a commanding 26-9 advantage and blew the game wide open before the second period even began.
Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire never looked back, methodically extending its lead throughout the middle quarters. A jumper by Charmine Torres — just five seconds into the fourth quarter — stretched the margin to 30 points, 71-41, effectively putting the game out of Akari-Rizal’s reach.
(C) WMPBL
“We didn’t give up. Our backs were against the wall, and our character came out. The heart of a champion,” said Valkyries head coach Cholo Villanueva after the Game 2 victory.
“The girls didn’t want to give up. They worked hard and the other guys stepped up like Rizza Lozada, Chris Bariquit, Queenie Aquino. The intangible guys helped us get the win tonight and again, like any other series, we need someone to step up, and they did,” he added.
Fresh off winning her third tournament MVP award presented by Aktive, Afril Bernardino powered Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire with a monster double-double of 24 points and 21 rebounds. She also tallied three assists, three blocks, and two steals to keep the defending champions’ title hopes alive.
(C) WMPBL
Camille Claro chipped in 14 points off the bench, while Patricia Peñaranda and Khate Castillo contributed 10 and nine points, respectively.
For Akari-Rizal, Allana Lim was the lone bright spot, posting a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Mar Prado, Janine Pontejos, and Jhenn Angeles each scored nine points. Meanwhile, Raiza Palmera-Dy found herself limited to just four points and seven rebounds.
With the series now tied at one game apiece, Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire and Akari-Rizal will battle for the championship in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the Parañaque Coliseum.
The Scores:
Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire 83 – Bernardino 24, Claro 14, Peñaranda 10, Castillo 9, Lozada 7, Tongco 7, Aquino 4, Bariquit 4, Torres 2, Calang 2, Arciga 0, Manzanares 0, Fabruada 0, Dionisio 0
Akari-Rizal 60 – Lim 15, Prado 9, Pontejos 9, Angeles 9, Candelario 8, Adlawan 4, Palmera-Dy 4, Abatayo 2, Ventura 0, Sambile 0
Quarterscores: 26-9, 51-32, 69-41, 83-60
The post Afril Bernardino’s 20-20 masterpiece keeps Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire’s WMPBL title defense alive appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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