By: Joaquin Cortez
National University completed a historic esports title sweep after ruling the eFIBA x UAAP eGilas Talent Discovery Tournament presented by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Tuesday at the MVP Studios in Mandaluyong City.
After winning the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament last August and the VALORANT competition last September, NU completed the treble in the final discipline of the event, sweeping the University of Santo Tomas, 56-51 and 74-56, to capture its first championship in the basketball esports tournament.
John Emmanuel Reyes was named Finals MVP after recording 19 points and 14 assists in Game 1, followed by a 26-point, 18-assist performance in the title-clinching match.
“I am still in disbelief na nakuha po namin ‘yung gold,” Finals MVP Reyes said. “Siyempre po nag-double gold na po ang VALORANT and Mobile Legends before us, so na-inspire po kami with hunger to win it all ‘yung tournament sa UAAP.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The breakthrough also marked the first time a team other than Ateneo de Manila University had won the championship since the basketball esports tournament was introduced in 2024.
The Blue Eagles captured the first two titles under the old one-on-one format but fell short this year, managing just one win under the new five-on-five system.
In the opening game of the finals, the Bulldogs kept the Teletigers at bay, with Dunn Visitacion knocking down two timely triples to give NU a nine-point cushion entering the final period, 45-36.
UST mounted a late rally, with Damiel Argame drilling a corner triple to cap a 10-3 run and cut the deficit to two with three minutes remaining, 48-46.
However, that was as close as the Teletigers could get. NU responded with a 6-0 run, punctuated by Reyes’ pull-up jumper, to extend its lead to 54-46 and draw first blood in the series.
In the title-clinching game, the Bulldogs caught fire from beyond the arc in the final period, with Reyes and Visitacion combining for three consecutive triples to stretch their lead to 24 points with just over three minutes remaining and put the finishing touches on their first basketball esports championship.
“It’s very monumental for the team and the organization as well kasi we started this year with a lot more resources than before, so the eyes were set to win everything talaga,” NU coach Dhap Palacio said of completing the triple crown sweep. “From the day I scouted players, the goal in mind was to win.”
“In any event that we play, everyone is capable of doing their job, and I believe that’s what makes championship teams as well, so foundation talaga namin is the roster itself and structure,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
In the semifinals, the Bulldogs survived a tough challenge from Adamson University, winning the series in three games.
In the opening game, Adamson built a four-point cushion in the final period after Dela Cruz drained a triple to make it 48-44 with 2:51 remaining.
However, the Soaring Falcons squandered their advantage as NU closed the game with a 7-0 run, capped by John Constantino’s two-handed dunk with 16.9 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 51-48 lead.
Adamson had a chance to force overtime with a triple, but the attempt rattled out as NU held on to take the series opener.
The Falcons responded in Game 2, unleashing a decisive 17-5 run spanning two periods. Jan LeBron Gacula’s corner triple turned a one-point deficit into a 13-point advantage with 3:23 remaining, 40-27. Gacula then put the finishing touches on the victory with a floater to force a deciding third game, 44-33.
Trailing 26-25 at halftime in the decider, NU tightened its defensive pressure, limiting Adamson to just seven points in the third period. Constantino’s triple extended the Bulldogs’ lead to six heading into the final frame, 37-31.
NU maintained control in the closing minutes, with Reyes’ dunk helping seal the Bulldogs’ place in the finals before they secured an eight-point victory, 51-43.
Meanwhile, UST also needed three games to eliminate La Salle in the semifinals, rallying in the second half to win the deciding match, 65-64, and secure its second consecutive finals appearance.
After La Salle escaped with a gutsy overtime victory to force a decider, the Green Aces appeared poised to pull away when Eidan Gammad knocked down a triple to extend their lead to double digits in the third quarter, 46-35.
UST, however, launched its comeback with a 13-6 run in the third period, capped by Eryx Delos Reyes’ three-pointer to trim the deficit to four heading into the fourth quarter, 52-48.
The Green Aces still held a 62-57 advantage with two minutes remaining, but the Teletigers refused to back down. Gideon Del Val sank two free throws to tie the game at 62-all before Hubillar drilled a crucial triple with 53.1 seconds left to put UST ahead, 65-62.
Hubillar had a chance to extend the lead but missed a layup with 10 seconds remaining. Delos Reyes then committed a costly clear-path foul on La Salle’s final possession, allowing Gammad to convert both free throws and cut the deficit to one, 65-64.
However, Gammad was forced into a contested triple on the ensuing possession and missed, allowing UST to hold on and book its place in the finals.
