In the men's tournament, the De La Salle Green Archers finished first, with the UP Fighting Maroons second. The UST Growling Tigers finished third, while the Adamson Soaring Falcons eliminated the UE Red Warriors in the 4th seed playoff. Both UP and La Salle won the semifinals match-ups over Adamson and UST, respectively, marking their second overall head-to-head UAAP Finals matchup. For the fourth consecutive season, the men's basketball finals series reached a do-or-die third game - the longest such streak so far for the tournament in UAAP Final Four history. UP defeated La Salle to win their 4th men's championship.
In the women's tournament, the NU Lady Bulldogs advanced to the finals outright after winning all elimination round games. The Adamson Lady Falcons defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the first round of the stepladder. UST defeated Adamson on the next round, setting up a rematch from last year's finals with NU. The series lasted three full games, with NU defeating UST to win their 8th women's championship.
In the junior high school tournament, the UE Junior Warriors finished first, followed by the FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws; they have the twice-to-beat advantage against the NUNS Bullpups and the UST Tiger Cubs, respectively. While UE defeated NUNS, UST upset FEU Diliman in the semifinals. The Junior Warriors then defeated the Tiger Cubs to win the first junior high school championship, and first basketball championship for UE since 1985.
Xavy Nunag was named basketball commissioner for the third consecutive year. Assisting him are his deputies Mariana Lopa and Marvin Bienvenida who will supervise the women’s and high school basketball tournaments, respectively. The UAAP also announced the return of the girls' tournament, last played in 2020.[1]
Teams customarily assigned to wear light jerseys during certain games would be allowed to wear dark uniforms instead as long as Commissioner's Office permits. This privilege was not exercised last Season 86 when this change was introduced. The Green Archers is set to be the first team to take advantage of the new rule in their scheduled opening game against Ateneo.[2]
Teams
Basketball is a mandatory event in the UAAP, where all 8 universities are required to field in teams.
The girls' tournament is a demonstration sport last held in 2020, and is not mandatory.
University of Santo Tomas Senior High School (UST)
Tiger Cubs
Manu Iñigo
^ abSince 2017, Ateneo de Manila University is the only member school that does not use an acronym for official communications and graphics, according to their branding guide.[4]
The opening ceremonies and opening day men's doubleheader shall be held at Araneta Coliseum. Subsequent men's, women's and junior high school first round games are scheduled to be held there, and in the SM Mall of Asia Arena, mostly in sextupleheaders. In game days where only the men's teams are to play in either arena, the women's and junior high school games are held in the Adamson University gym on the same day.[14]
For the second round, there are 5 games per day held in one venue, with the Filoil EcoOil Centre and the Quadricentennial Pavilion hosting games. The affected women's and junior high school games will be done after the men's elimination round concludes, and will be held at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. This was done to have earlier start times for men's games.[15] For the postponed games due to Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami), it was included in the games that will be held at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Each team has a 16-player roster. Only one "foreign student-athlete", non-Filipinos who are otherwise known as "imports" elsewhere, is allowed to be on the active roster.
Due to the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test being held on the same day, the UAAP postponed the October 20 games hosted by the Quadricentennial Pavilion to November 3.[17]
The UAAP postponed the October 23 games due to inclement weather caused by Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami).[18] The postponed games were rescheduled to November 20 and 23.
Source: UAAP on Livestats Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win. Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
Fourth seed playoff
Adamson and UE finished the elimination round tied for fourth. This is a one-game playoff to determine the #4 seed.[19] This Adamson's third consecutive fourth seed playoff.[20]
The top two seeded teams after the elimination round have the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, where they have to be beaten twice, while their opponents only once, to progress.
(1) La Salle vs. (4) Adamson
La Salle became the first team to clinch a semifinals berth with their win against Adamson.[21] La Salle then clinched the twice-to-beat advantage with FEU's win over UE.[22] The Green Archers then locked the #1 seed in a win against UP.[23]Adamson clinched the #4 seed after winning their fourth seed playoff against UE.[20] These two teams last met in the semis in 2017 where La Salle won in one game.
UP was the second team to clinch a semifinals berth, their sixth consecutive, after a win against Adamson.[24] They then settled on the #2 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage that comes with it, on their loss against La Salle.[23]UST clinched the #3 seed and its first Final Four appearance since 2019 after their win against Adamson. The match-up is a rematch of the 2019 series where lower-seeded UST won in two games.[25]
Game 3 was originally scheduled on December 14 at the Araneta Coliseum, coincidentally on the same day and venue as Game 3 (if necessary) of NCAA Season 100. The UAAP then rescheduled Game 3 to December 15.[28]
La Salle's Kevin Quiambao emerged as the top player in the statistical points race, the basis of determining the individual awards including most valuable player. Quiambao was also the scoring champion.[37]
The following were disciplined throughout the course of the season:
Coach Topex Robinson of the De La Salle Green Archers for "responded with language unbecoming of a coach", and Reyland Torres of the UP FIghting Maroons, for passing "in very close proximity to Coach Robinson twice", in their first round game against each other; both were given stern warnings by the UAAP. Torres accused Robinson of spitting on him, while La Salle accused Torres of using profane language, but evidence for both were inconclusive.[38]
Source: UAAP on Livestats Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win. Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
After winning their first 12 games, the NU Lady Bulldogs clinched the top seed. UST, Adamson, and Ateneo round-up the teams that qualified to the playoffs.[43] As the NU Lady Bulldogs won all elimination round games, received a bye up to the finals, with the next three teams figuring in a stepladdersingle-elimination tournament.[44]
(3) Adamson vs. (4) Ateneo
Adamson and Ateneo will face in the first round of the stepladder.[45]
The NU Lady Bulldogs clinched their tenth consecutive finals appearance, and the first elimination round sweep since UAAP Season 82 (2019).[44] UST emerged out of the stepladder semifinals as the winner, qualifying to its third finals in four seasons.[47] This is a finals rematch from last season where the Tigresses won.[48]
Game 3 was originally scheduled on December 14 at the Araneta Coliseum, coincidentally on the same day and venue as Game 3 (if necessary) of NCAA Season 100. The UAAP then rescheduled Game 3 to December 15.[28]
The boys' tournament will begin on the second semester, alongside the girls' tournament.[1]
Girls tournament
The girls' tournament will return, and shall be held concurrently with the boys' tournament in the second semester.[1]
Junior high school tournament
The junior high school tournament shall be held alongside the collegiate tournaments in the first semester.[1] The tournament started on September 8, 2024 at the Adamson Gym.[51]
Source: UAAP on Livestats Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win. Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
The top two seeded teams after the elimination round have the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals, where they have to be beaten twice, while their opponents only once.
(1) UE vs. (4) NUNS
UE clinched the first playoff berth after their win against NUNS.[53] UE then clinched the #1 seed with a win against Adamson.[54] The NUNS Bullpups defeat of DLSZ and UST's win over Ateneo eliminated the defeated teams and clinched qualification for NUNS as the #4 seed.[55]
FEU DIliman clinched a semifinal berth after winning against NUNS.[56] FEU's second round win over UE denied the Junior Warriors winning all elimination round games, and guaranteed that the playoffs will be on the traditional final four format.[57] FEU clinched the twice-to-beat advantage in their win against UPIS.[58] UST's win over DLSZ clinched their semifinal appearance, and had all UST basketball teams participating the first semester qualify to the playoffs.[59]
The finals is a best-of-three playoff. The UE Junior Warriors defeated the NUNS Bullpups to advance to the finals,[60] while UST defeated twice-to-beat FEU Diliman to advance.[61]
