On Sunday, the La Salle Green Archers etched their name in UAAP history by clinching a fourth consecutive men’s 3×3 basketball title in Season 88, defeating collegiate rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles, 21‑18.
The championship clash marked the first 3×3 finals meeting between the two schools, with Ateneo staying within striking distance throughout, fueled by the efforts of Shaun Tuano.
La Salle, however, found its spark midway through the game when Luis Pablo shifted momentum with a thunderous one‑handed dunk, helping the Archers recover from an early deficit. From there, the contest evolved into a tense, neck‑and‑neck affair, with both sides trading baskets in the closing minutes.
Holding a slim 16‑15 lead late, the Archers leaned on Pablo to take control. He calmly sank two free throws, then followed up with a mid‑range jumper to give La Salle breathing room. Ateneo responded with a clutch two‑pointer from Tuano, but Pablo answered once more to push La Salle to match point with just over a minute remaining.
Luis Pablo Delivers the Golden Basket for La Salle
Despite another basket from Tuano to keep the Blue Eagles alive, Pablo sealed the victory with a decisive drive to the rim for a layup with 36.1 seconds left.
Pablo spearheaded La Salle’s offence with 13 points, anchoring the team’s late‑game execution. He received support from Earl Abadam, who added 5 points, and JC Macalalag, who chipped in 3. Tuano paced Ateneo with 8 points in a valiant effort, while Drew Bongo, Third Ebdane, and Alden Cainglet also contributed offensively.
Green Archers Extend 3×3 Dynasty to Four Straight Titles
After winning the 5‑on‑5 basketball crown last December, the Green Archers were not content to stop there—they added another championship in the half‑court format.
La Salle has now stretched its winning streak in UAAP Men’s 3×3 basketball to 13 games, once again proving its consistency on the big stage. This run began in 2023 with a victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, followed by a tight 17‑16 win against the UE Red Warriors in 2024, and capped by a miraculous comeback against the UST Growling Tigers last year.
Earlier in the day, the NU Bulldogs secured third place by beating Adamson, 17‑13, behind an 8‑point performance from Paul Francisco.
With another title secured, La Salle’s sustained excellence in 3×3 basketball continues to set the standard—and the Archers are already being talked about as favourites heading into Season 89.
