November 14, 2025 | 3:50pm
Games Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (U16)
9:30 a.m. – UE vs NUNS (U16)
11:30 a.m. – UE vs NU (women)
1:30 p.m. – UE vs NU (men)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs ADMU (men)
7 p.m. – UST vs ADMU (women)
MANILA, Philippines — League-leader National University guns for an outright twice-to-beat bonus against the winless University of the East in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Already the first semifinalist with still a few games to spare, the Bulldogs (10-2) also shoot for the first bonus without any possible complications against the also-ran Red Warriors (0-11) at 1:30 p.m. before the crucial duel between Final Four hopefuls University Santo Tomas (6-5) and Ateneo (5-5) at 4:30 p.m.
NU holds its own fate for the said bonus, having created enough separation from title holder University of the Philippines (8-3) and La Salle (6-4) in a three-way race for the Top Two seeds that comes with a win-once incentive in the Final Four.
As it stands, NU, with 10 wins, is already assured of at least a playoff for one of the coveted spots given a possible tie but want no less than an official stamp to it here and now, especially against the UE unit already out of contention.
And coach Jeff Napa can count on the Bulldogs’ unwavering hunger in spite of a comfortable spot.
“Wala pa kaming napapatunayan. Hindi pa kami satisfied,” said Napa, warning against any complacency from his charges even against the listless Red Warriors, who already have nothing to lose.
NU will bank on a 70-64 win against Far Eastern University for its fourth in a row since starting the second round with another defeat to UP, 78-74.
The Bulldogs have taken care of business against all UAAP squads save for the Fighting Maroons, who also beat them in the first round, 66-59.
NU’s rampage included a 72-57 win over UE in their first encounter, making the Jake Figueroa-led squad the heavy favorite to prevail anew for a complete turnaround of its 5-9 campaign last season.
The Bulldogs, owing to the early injury of Malian reinforcement Mo Diassana, paraded an all-Filipino squad to miss the Final Four before coming back with a vengeance this season on top of everybody starring Gambian anchor Omar John.