University of Santo Tomas and National University secured their spots in the NSAC 2026 College Basketball Campus Tour Final after scoring semifinal victories on Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
UST outlasted defending UAAP champion De La Salle University, 115-107, in overtime to book its place in the championship game.
Tempers flared early in the fourth quarter as multiple players were disqualified following a heated sequence at the 8:29 mark. La Salle’s Vhoris Marasigan and UST’s Ivanne Calum, Mark Llemit, and Koji Buenaflor were all ejected, shifting the momentum of what had been a tightly contested battle.
The chaotic stretch set the stage for a tense finish, with the Green Archers leaning on Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez to force overtime after tying the game at 93-all at the end of regulation.
UST seized control in the extra period behind triples from Amiel Acido and Mur Alao, opening a six-point cushion. La Salle repeatedly cut the deficit to as low as three points, but the Growling Tigers answered every rally. Gelo Crisostomo eventually buried a dagger three-pointer with 1:11 remaining to give UST a commanding 110-99 lead.
The Growling Tigers maintained control the rest of the way, with Acido adding the final basket to complete the 115-107 overtime victory.
“Ito ‘yung matagal na naming pinagtatrabahuhan ever since bumalik kami after ng season, talagang no days off talaga so really glad a nakuha namin ‘yung panalo and sana makuha namin ‘yung championship bukas,” said Acido.
“We just trusted each other talaga… even though na may mga times na hindi pumapabor sa amin. We just really have to trust each other, stay composed para mas makapag-isip kami nang maayos and were glad na naging maganda ‘yung kinalabasan,” he added.
“Siguro mas dodoblehin namin ‘yung effort namin kasi championship game na eh. Di porket natalo namin ‘yung NU nung eliminations is ganun pa rin ‘yung lalaruin nila, so we expect na mas intense pa na laro.”
Acido erupted for 33 points and six rebounds to lead UST, while Akowe contributed 24 points and nine rebounds. Crisostomo flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
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Amos paced La Salle with 23 points, while Cortez added 20 points and 12 assists in the losing effort.
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Meanwhile, NU stormed back in the fourth quarter to stun reigning NCAA champion San Beda University, 83-80, and advance to the title clash set for Sunday, May 31, at 4:30 p.m. at the same Katipunan venue.
The Bulldogs erased a 13-point deficit behind back-to-back triples from Paul Francisco and a crucial late three-pointer from Paolo Palacielo. NU outscored San Beda, 27-19, in the final frame to turn a 61-56 deficit into an 83-80 victory.
Daniel Marcelo tried to keep the Red Lions afloat with 11 fourth-quarter points, but the Bulldogs held their ground in the closing seconds to complete the comeback.
“‘Yung style of basketball, nung second half lang kami naglaro so marami pa ring kailangang trabahuhin. So we need to correct ourselves pa rin,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa. “Okay ‘yung intention naman nung mga players eh but ‘yung approach, dun kami nag-correct eh. Just the like [in] the first half, we were too aggressive so help kami nang help ‘nun. ‘Yun lang, we just stay disciplined in our defense and then sa offense namin, find the right people or right spot kung saan kami aatake.
“Kahit sino naman [kalaban namin sa final], ang kailangan lang namin ayusin muna ‘yung sarili namin. Just like today’s game, we correct ourselves talaga. We don’t care kung ano ‘yung ginagawa ng kalaban namin. So maybe dun ulit kami mag-iistart tomorrow, para at least magiging in favor ulit samin,” he added.
Palacielo finished with 22 points and six rebounds to lead the Bulldogs, while Francisco added 13 points. Reinhard Jumamoy chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.
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For San Beda, Marcelo tallied 20 points and eight rebounds in defeat.
The battle for third place between San Beda and La Salle is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the same venue.
