Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas pulled off the biggest upset on Day 1 of the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls, stunning UAAP Final Four squad De La Salle-Zobel, 82-71, to advance to Division 1 on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Mustangs leaned on 5-foot-10 guard Nikko Rosales to shock the Junior Archers, as he poured in 24 points, including six triples.
Supporting Rosales were Godwin Virrey, who contributed 17 points, and Sean Lirio, who added 16 points.
Maco Dabao, a member of the UAAP Elite Team, led DLSZ with 16 points and six rebounds.
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Another surprise in the Super 32 was D’Generals x Dynamix Creative, which routed Global Hoops champion Top Flight Sports Canada, 112-96, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Ruzzel del Poso, who is headed to Jose Rizal University for college, drained nine triples en route to 32 points and also grabbed eight rebounds to help his team advance to Division 1.
The Mustangs will face the Arellano Braves, the NCAA runners-up who edged the Liceo de Cagayan University Titans, 97-94, while D’Generals will take on Rene Baterbonia and Off-Campus Residences x Toyomoto, who survived a 78-75 win over AG Sports Apparel, in their Supreme 16 matchup on Wednesday.
Last season’s finalists, Phenom New Zealand-Bluefire and Fil-Am Nation Select, also had dominant starts to their campaigns.
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UAAP Season 87 MVP Kieffer Alas tallied 33 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and an assist in Phenom’s 87-78 win over the San Beda Red Cubs, while five-star recruit Blaze Johnson delivered 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in Fil-Am’s 86-56 victory over Fil-Euro Nation.
Phenom will face the UE Junior Warriors, who defeated the Sacred Heart Magis Eagles, 65-56, next. Fil-Am Nation Select will take on Homegrown Australia, who ousted GM Botor x Troops Hoops, 76-60.
The rest of Division 1 matchups will see Batang Tiaong take on the UST Tiger Cubs, Yes Mariveles face the USJ-R Baby Jaguars, NCAA champions Letran Squires square off against Fil-Nation LA, and the North Luzon D’Generals battle the St. Clare College Saints.
The losers of the Round of 32 in this tournament—supported by Smart Sports, SM Mall of Asia Arena, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Omni, Gameville, Playtime Entertainment, G2G All Spice, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Buffalo’s Wings N Things, The Lighthouse Group, Swish, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas—have dropped to the classification round.
