University of the Philippines will face a hostile crowd when it opens its title defense in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Fighting Maroons take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena to close the opening weekend of UAAP Season 88 on Sunday, September 21.
This matchup will also mark the start of the swan songs for the “Maroon 5” — Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres — as they play their final UAAP season.
On the other side, UST stars Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao are also set to begin their farewell campaigns in the collegiate ranks.
Tip-off is scheduled at 4:30 PM.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, De La Salle University and Adamson University will headline opening day on Saturday, September 20.
The main event will showcase the clash between Green Archers senior Mike Phillips and Soaring Falcons senior Cedrick Manzano.
La Salle will also parade its new recruits — Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, and Luis Pablo — in their Green Archers debuts.
Earlier that day, Far Eastern University opens its season against Ateneo de Manila University, which will be bannered by “one-and-dones” Kymani Ladi, Dominic Escobar, and Jaden Lazo.
On Sunday, September 21, National University squares off with the University of the East in the other men’s basketball pairing.
Both games on Saturday and Sunday will tip off at 2:00 PM.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The junior high school boys’ division will also be played in the morning with the same pairings.
Games are at 8:30 and 10:00 AM.
The Junior Warriors, now under the leadership of Matthew Sia, begin their title defense against the Bullpups at 8:30 AM on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the UAAP women’s basketball tournament will officially begin on September 24.
The start was pushed back to accommodate Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa, NU’s Christine Cayabyab, and Adamson’s Cheska Apag and Elaine Etang, who are competing in the FIBA 3×3 Under-23 World Cup 2025 from September 17 to 21 in Xiong’an, China.
