The Ateneo de Manila University and the De La Salle University recorded their first win on the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila on Saturday, September 20.

In the first game of the season, the Blue Eagles finally won against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws after three seasons. This is also the first time that Ateneo has won its opening game since Season 85, when they went on to win the championship.

“Welcome back to the UAAP. It looks like it’s going to be that kind of year. Great for the fans, really exciting,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin. “I’m proud of the team for sticking to the job and getting across the finish line.”

Kymani Ladi led the Blue Eagles with an almost double-double performance of 26 points and nine rebounds. Dom Escobar added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Jared Bahay contributed 13 points, five assists, and four steals.

For the side of the Tamaraws, Janrey Pasaol and Jorick Bautista shared the scoring load with 24 points apiece, while Mo Konateh had a monster performance under the net with 23 rebounds and 11 points.

In the second game, the De La Salle University Green Archers just barely escaped the gritty Adamson University Falcons, 60-58.

After the match, Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson applauded their opponent and reminded every team not to underestimate the Soaring Falcons.

He said, “People often underestimate Adamson. They always give us a tough fight and force a low-scoring game, which is exactly what they wanted. This is just the start of our season. We still have a lot of work and challenges ahead, but we’re focused on improving as we go.”

Mike Phillips led the Green Archers with a double-double performance of 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, while Jacob Cortez finished the game with 16 points.

For the side of the Soaring Falcons, Cedrick Manzano led the team with 19 points and nine rebounds, while John Erolon added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Here are other things you might have missed on the opening day of UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

16

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles team captain Jared Bahay scored or assisted on 16 of the last 20 points of his team, which ultimately ended in a win. Throughout the game, Bahay scored 13 points, five assists, and four steals.

Before the season began, Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin challenged Bahay to lead the team aside from his usual playmaker duty as a point guard.

Coach Tab said, “I challenge him to lead the team better, and to really settle into a role of a point guard who is a coach on the floor. Jared has always had good scoring ability, and he has great leadership ability, but he has to integrate those two into how he plays.”

Only in his second playing year, Bahay took matters into his hands when he scored back-to-back three pointers in overtime to tie the match at 80-all with 1:06 left remaining on the clock.

After that play, Bahay stole the ball from Tamaraws’ Mo Konateh, which ultimately led to their victory, thanks to Kymani Ladi’s shots.

“We got down [by] six. I trusted the game plan that Coach Tab gave us. I was patient and waited for open looks. Fortunately, I got those open looks,” Bahay said after the game. “I took the opportunity and I’m very grateful that it went [well].”

26, 9

On his UAAP debut, Kymani Ladi almost recorded a double-double performance of 26 points and nine rebounds on Ateneo’s win against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

A product of Merritt College in California, Ladi expressed his happiness on his debut game in the UAAP. In the United States, Ladi competed in a league for junior colleges named the California Community College Athletic Association.

He said, “I love the atmosphere here. It’s new, but it’s also exciting because I’ve always wanted to play on a stage like this. Now I have the opportunity, and I’m taking it. It’s great to play in this kind of atmosphere. The competition is great. It really tested what I can do and what I can contribute to the team. I’m just trying to give my best every game.”

Despite leading the team in scoring and rebounding, he deflected the credit back to his teammates.

He said, “Whenever I get good shots from my teammates, or see them open, I try to hit them as well. It was a good effort from all of us.

“Whenever I get good shots from my teammates or see them open, I try to hit them as well. It was a good effort from all of us,” Ladi said.

Ladi and his team will next take on the University of the East Red Warriors on Wednesday, September 25, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

16

In his return to the Quadricentennial Pavilion, Jacob Cortez of the De La Salle University Green Archers finished the game with a victory. He was the second-highest scorer for his team with 16 points.

Before transferring to the green-and-white, Cortez first honed his skills at the same arena as part of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, who usually practice in the pavilion.

“I used to practice here. I remember those 4 am sessions. Even as I walked around today, watching students do PE, I could visualize myself in that same spot years ago. Coming back to UST and playing at the QPav – I never expected that I’d play a UAAP game there as a Lasallian.”

Cortez and the Green Archers will have a one-week break before facing this season’s host, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, on Saturday, September 27, at the Araneta Coliseum.