𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗: 𝗨𝗣 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟴𝟮–𝟴𝟭 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘃𝘀 𝗨𝗦𝗧

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are back in the championship stage—for the fifth straight season—after surviving the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 82–81, in a nail-biting UAAP Season 88 semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With UST up 81–79, it was Terrence Fortea who stepped up in crunch time. The veteran guard drilled a cold-blooded three with 48.5 seconds left, giving UP the lead for good and sealing his status as the game’s hero.

UST still had chances at the rim, but Francis Nnoruka’s huge block on Nic Cabañero and a final defensive stand kept the Tigers from retaking control.

Head coach Goldwin Monteverde praised the team’s poise under pressure, noting how every player rose to the moment:

“Trust in the whole team—that’s what made us win,” Fortea echoed after the game.

UP now waits for the winner of the NU vs La Salle rubber match to determine their dance partner in the finals. La Salle forced the decider after beating the top-seeded Bulldogs, 87–77.

The road gets tougher from here—but once again, UP is exactly where they expect to be: on the biggest stage, with everything on the line.

Image from UAAP Media