Adamson University and National University lived up to their billing as title contenders, emerging as the top seeds in their respective groups at the conclusion of the 2026 UAAP Esports Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Tournament group stage on Tuesday at the MVP Studios in Mandaluyong City.

The Soaring Falcons swept their way into the playoffs after scoring back-to-back 2-0 victories over Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines on Day 2, finishing the group stage undefeated.

Adamson, which missed the playoffs in each of the past two tournaments, stole the spotlight in the group stage after becoming the only team to sweep all of its matches and enter the medal rounds with plenty of momentum.

“We were expecting to sweep the group talaga. Yung preparation kasi namin all throughout mga isang taon. So one year na preparation para lang sa tatlong araw na to kaya ayaw na namin sayangin yung moment,” explained Soaring Falcons head coach John Carlo Argonza on his team’s approach in the group stage.

“Yung players din nagdala. Yung galing nila pinapakita nila every game,” he added.

Adamson opened the day with a clinical performance against FEU, with Fhrance Hilario tallying five kills and three assists as the Soaring Falcons built a commanding 10-2 kill advantage heading into the first Lord objective.

Prince Valero then delivered the finishing blow in the 14th minute, securing a triple kill during a decisive 5-for-0 wipeout that sealed Game 1 and immediately eliminated the Tamaraws from playoff contention.

FEU managed to keep Game 2 competitive but had no answer for Hilario, who erupted for 10 kills and five assists to power Adamson to the series sweep.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Against UP, the Soaring Falcons cruised to a 14-minute victory in Game 1 behind Hilario’s seven kills and four assists, highlighted by a Maniac killing streak in the closing moments that punctuated Adamson’s dominant performance.

The Fighting Maroons mounted a more resilient stand in Game 2 and dragged the contest deep into the late game, but Adamson ultimately seized control during a crucial Lord fight in the 24th minute, securing a 3-for-0 wipe before launching the series-clinching base turret push.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Meanwhile, in Group A, NU opened with a rousing 2-0 sweep of the University of the East before suffering a 2-0 loss to defending champion De La Salle University.

The defeat left the door open for the Green Aces to overtake the Bulldogs in the standings, but La Salle needed another sweep in its final assignment against the University of Santo Tomas to claim the top spot.

“We’re thankful that we were able to qualify to the playoffs, but at the same time, with a loss to DLSU, mas nag-ground kami. Wake-up call samin to sa reality na marami pa kaming kailangang ayusin, and entering the playoffs, we’ll take this as a learning experience to be able to perform better tomorrow,” said NU head coach Ernest Del Rosario on their loss to La Salle.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs secured the top seed after earning two wins via sweep, while the Green Aces were held to a 1-1 draw by the University of Santo Tomas in Group A’s final match.

The two group leaders headline the crossover semifinals, with Adamson taking on defending champion La Salle and NU facing UP.

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National University and the University of the Philippines emerged as the early leaders of their respective groups following the opening day of the 2026 UAAP Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Tournament group stage on Monday at the MVP Studios in Mandaluyong City.

Johann Estacio spearheaded NU’s dominant sweep of the University of Santo Tomas, tallying nine kills and 12 assists across the two-game series to propel the Bulldogs to the top of Group A with three points.

NU head coach Ernest Del Rosario credited the Bulldogs’ preparation for their confident performance against the Teletigers.

“Alam namin na gagawin ng kalaban yung best nila, but with the preparations that we had, we kind of expected the win, and we’re glad that we got it,” Del Rosario said.

The Bulldogs opened the floodgates with a commanding 10-minute victory in Game 1, finishing with a 12-3 advantage in kills.

Gold laner Kirk Herrero delivered a flawless performance for NU, recording seven kills and four assists without a single death.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Bulldogs raced to a 3,700-gold advantage midway through the fifth minute of Game 2, with Estacio accounting for four kills and one assist during the early surge.

NU never looked back, as Estacio capped another clinical performance with a perfect 6-0-5 KDA to complete the sweep.

University of the East sits behind NU with two points after securing 1-1 draws against UST and defending champion De La Salle University.

The Bulldogs will have little time to rest, as they face UE and La Salle—the champions of the tournament’s previous two editions—in their final two group-stage assignments today.

“It’s a big challenge, but we do believe that, to be the best, kailangan namin silang talunin. So we’re just going to do our best,” Del Rosario said.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Meanwhile, UP seized the early lead in Group B after collecting one victory and one draw for four points.

The Fighting Maroons opened their campaign with an impressive 2-0 sweep of Ateneo de Manila University before settling for a 1-1 draw with Far Eastern University to close the first day of action.

Adamson University occupies second place with three points after likewise sweeping Ateneo, 2-0.

The Blue Eagles, who suffered consecutive 0-2 defeats, have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

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Two months after the fatal team-building activity of Ateneo de Manila University in Dipaculao, Aurora, Louie Alas continues to draw strength from the community surrounding the Blue Eagles.

The incident resulted in the deaths of incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia and sophomore Divine Adili. The Blue Eagles who took part in the activity were also victims of the incident, as several players nearly drowned.

Now, as Ateneo continues to navigate the difficult months that followed, Alas believes basketball has become part of the team’s healing process.

“Ang biggest healing lang namin is to play, and like noong first game, diba sabi ko sa inyo, we praised God,” he said.

That resilience was on full display Sunday as Alas and the Blue Eagles overcame a 13-point deficit to stun College of Saint Benilde, 81-78, in an emotional display at the Blue Eagle Gym. His son, Kieffer Alas, led all scorers with 21 points and helped spark Ateneo’s comeback, but for Coach Louie, the victory was about more than basketball.

Similarly to their previous outing against Our Lady of Fatima University last Sunday, Alas said he and his coaching staff once again refrained from talking to the team after the game.

“We didn’t talk to the players again after the game, kasi mas importante sa amin to keep on thanking them because of this. Look at the lineup, eleven lang kami kanina, wala mga national players namin. Kanina, si (Michael) Asoro, got injured,” said Alas as Andrew Bongo and Shawn Tuano are with Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 for the FIBA 3×3 Nations League-Asia Southeast Asia Conference in Malaysia.

“So kanina, mas focused kami sa prayers for healing nila.”

Despite the depleted roster, the Blue Eagles turned the game around in the second half.

Benilde shot 56-percent from the field in the opening half, but Ateneo’s defense clamped down after the break. The team limited the Blazers to 12 points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.

“We gave up 12 points and 13 points in the third and fourth quarters, 29 and 24 in the first and second, so na-half namin ‘yun,” he added.

According to Alas, much of that defensive surge came from Ian Espinosa, the team’s long-time point guard and appointed leader.

Espinosa spoke to the team during its final two defensive possessions, reminding his teammates of one of their most difficult practice drills.

“Ian was talking to them during the last two possessions, ‘yun yung biggest defensive stops namin. Sabi niya, ‘This is the best time to show off your Indian run,’ ‘yun talaga yung mahirap na practice,” he beamed.

The win, however, is only another step for a Blue Eagles team still looking ahead to bigger challenges.

Ateneo will face either Adamson University or Mapua University in the quarterfinals, while Alas knows his team must make significant improvements before the UAAP season.

“We need to improve din; you can’t do that against UAAP teams. From the first to the last second, you have to play consistently,” said the former Letran head coach.

“Guidance pa rin and lots of viewing.”

For now, though, Alas remains grateful for the people who have continued to stand behind the Blue Eagles through one of the most difficult periods in the program’s history.

With the Blue Eagle Gym roaring behind them Sunday, he emphasized just how much the community’s presence means to a team that has endured unimaginable loss.

“Ang hirap sukatin pero immeasurable, sobrang importante.”

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