Jhustin Hallare and Bruce Tubongbanua carried the weight of the University of the Philippines Integrated School’s campaign on their shoulders throughout UAAP Season 88.
But after another grueling year that ended without a single victory, the two Fighting Maroons stand at a crossroads — uncertain whether their future still lies in Diliman or elsewhere.
Hallare and Tubongbanua remained tight-lipped about their next move following UPIS’ winless run in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
Both once again carried the cudgels for the Fighting Maroons, but UPIS — mentored by head coach King Vergeire — stumbled to its second consecutive winless season in UAAP boys’ basketball after a similar campaign in Season 87.
Tubongbanua put up averages of 16.43 points, 6.79 rebounds, 2.21 assists, and 1.21 steals, while Hallare followed with 14.29 points, 5.71 rebounds, 2.79 assists, and 0.93 steals. Despite their production, however, the Fighting Maroons were unable to break through, extending their dry spell in UAAP boys’ basketball to 32 straight games dating back to Season 86.
Both players still have one more year of eligibility with UPIS, but Hallare and Tubongbanua told Tiebreaker Times that they will carefully weigh their options first before deciding whether to remain with the Fighting Maroons or explore opportunities with an NCAA program.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Wala pa naman iniisip for now. Bahala na si God and His Plan. I’ll take my time muna. Mahaba pa naman yung school year, and I’ll just focus on my studies muna,” Tubongbanua explained.
“For now, we’ll see. Hindi pa ako sure for the future, but I’ll definitely pray on it that I’ll make the right decision,” Hallare followed.
Still, the two leaders said there were silver linings they could draw from their winless Season 88 campaign — particularly the lessons learned from adversity and the responsibility of leading a young UPIS squad.
After the departures of Rocco Melicor and Jaime Gomez de Liano following Season 87, both Hallare and Tubongbanua stepped into larger roles in guiding a Fighting Maroons side still searching for a breakthrough in UAAP boys’ basketball.
For Hallare — a Gilas Youth standout — the biggest takeaway from the season was learning never to back down from the challenge of helping lift the program back into contention despite its current struggles.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Yung ‘not giving up until the end’ na mentality talaga ang silver lining. Alam naman namin yung situation pero despite it, lumaban kami. It’s not giving up and giving it your all every single time, every single game, and every single practice,” the Season 87 Rookie of the Year shared.
Tubongbanua echoed his teammate’s sentiments, emphasizing that UPIS’ perseverance through adversity — along with the effort to maximize the potential of the entire roster — was a lesson he will carry moving forward, regardless of the decision he ultimately makes about his future.
“Yung pinaka-big lesson na babaunin ko is yung playing until the end. And yung playing the right way, ‘yon talaga. This whole season ang focus talaga namin is playing the right way and playing together and to play until the buzzer ends,” Tubongbanua explained.
“Natutunan ko sa kanya on how to make my teammates better. I need to play my game lang daw and sa hindi pagpipilit, doon mau-unleash not only my full potential, pero pati yung sa teammates ko.”
