Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar were grateful for the opportunity to shine in front of a passionate Ateneo de Manila University crowd as the one-and-done duo played in their first rivalry matchup against the De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday evening, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Coming from the quieter confines of Merritt College and Cal State LA, Ladi and Escobar had never experienced the deafening energy of a UAAP rivalry crowd.
But in just their fourth outing under the UAAP spotlight, the one-and-done tandem thrived in front of 17,185 roaring fans — a sea primarily clad in Blue and White — propelling Ateneo to an 81-74 triumph over their storied archrivals.
Fueled by the combined efforts of Ladi and Escobar, Ateneo built a lead as large as 33 points at 68-35 before relying on fourth-quarter heroics from Shawn Tuano.
This is the Blue Eagles’ first victory over La Salle since the first round of Season 86, when Mason Amos — still part of the Tab Baldwin-led squad at the time — delivered the key baskets.
Closely heeding the advice of Ateneo’s coaching staff and former players who had participated in the historic rivalry, Escobar admitted that playing in such a hostile and tension-filled environment was unlike anything he had experienced before.
Still, the 23-year-old guard managed to shake off the nerves and powered the Blue Eagles with 15 points, nine rebounds, and one assist on an efficient 6-of-14 shooting clip.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Man, it was something I’ve never experienced before. But the coaches and all the former players, they’ve emphasized how much this rivalry meant to them. And they take a lot of pride with it,” Escobar said postgame.
“Just with preparation throughout this whole week, you know, it kind of gives you that extra edge to play harder and to make sure that we come out with a win. But like I said, it was nothing like I’ve ever experienced. And I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and playing UP next week.”
Meanwhile, Ladi revealed that he approached the bayside Pasay venue with the mindset of treating a storied rivalry — spanning 98 UAAP men’s basketball games — as “just like a regular game.”
Still, buoyed by the Ateneo faithful who rocked with the team even as the Blue Eagles nearly squandered a game-high 33-point lead, the 25-year-old forward contributed 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block on 5-of-12 shooting, continuing his stellar UAAP debut.
“It felt just like a regular game to me, honestly. I did feel the tension in the air, and it was a fun game. There were a lot of competitors on the court, and we all played our hardest. It was a good game,” Ladi told Tiebreaker Times.
“For this game, it was a very big crowd, and it will be one of many that I have to get used to, and that brings the fire out of me by playing in these crowds. I love the energy.”
#WATCH : Kymani Ladi treated his first Ateneo-La Salle match ‘like any other game,’ credits the Blue Eagles crowd for weathering the Green Archers’ 4Q storm 🦅🏀
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason88 #RivalrySunday pic.twitter.com/Zbp6k9m6zv
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 5, 2025
