By: Jan Marcus Montevirgen
University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University advanced to the UAAP Esports NBA2K24 Final Four at the close of the group phase on Wednesday at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box, Areté Ateneo in Quezon City.
Teletigers Esports Club’s Erix Daniel Delos Reyes finished first in Pool A with six points, while fellow Teletigers Gideon Marty Del Val and Daemiel Erzbet Argame, who shared the chair in Pool B, remained flawless throughout the group stage, sweeping all universities and achieving the highest possible score of seven points.
After UST secured the top seed in both pools, Teletigers NBA2K head coach Augusto De Jesus III expressed joy that all his players advanced to the next round. He even mentioned that they would head straight to practice at nearby hotels.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Mas magiging masaya ako kapag magkatapat ang both UST sa finals. Doble yung saya. Kaya mamaya, plano namin na mag-practice na sa mga malalapit na hotel dito, wala nang uwian,” said De Jesus.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Joining the Final Four alongside the Teletigers were the Blue Eagles’ Justin Carl Lagac and Paolo Jesus Medina from Pool A, who advanced through a tiebreaker against FEU’s Nehemiah Maninit and UP’s Andreus Javier. Also advancing was Viridis Arcus’ Kegan Audric Yap, who finished with six points.
The playoffs on Thursday will follow a crossover format, where Teletigers’ Delos Reyes will face La Salle’s Yap, while UST’s Del Val/Argame will go up against Ateneo’s Lagac/Medina in a best-of-three series.
The Finals is also a best-of-three series.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Viridis Arcus head coach Rial Polog Jr. expressed confidence in their championship chances, especially with Yap taking the helm for La Salle.
“Yeah, I am confident (mag-champion) kasi yung nakapasok sa playoffs ay team captain namin. So, I am super confident na makuha [namin] yung championship,” Polog said confidently.
After the match between the Tamaraws’ Maninit and the Fighting Maroons’ Javier, where FEU won 47-44, a tiebreaker ensued among the two squads and Ateneo decided through quotient.
The Blue Eagles went a +22, the Fighting Maroons had 0, and the Tamaraws Esports ended with -22.
Completing the group stage standings in Pool A, the Fighting Maroons placed third, and the Tamaraws took fourth place. De La Salle University’s Jose Paraducho finished fifth with three points, Adamson University’s Joaquin Obado had two points, University of the East’s Joshue Mariano had a point, and National University’s Jarell Allaga finished scoreless.
In Pool B, unlike Day 1, all universities managed to earn points.
With UST leading the pool and La Salle following, Ateneo’s Luis Jovellanos finished with four points. FEU’s Justine Lagmay, NU’s John Reyes, and UE’s Ceanne Manalastas all finished with three points. Adamson’s Aaron Advincula and Remigio Aguinaldo III, along with UP’s Angelo Nuestro and Raphael Sison, each ended the group stage with a point.
