Here we go again.
For the third straight year, UAAP fans are treated to a familiar—and fierce—Finals matchup: the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons against the revenge-driven DLSU Green Archers.
Game 1 of this best-of-three championship series tips off Wednesday, December 10, at 4:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, promising another classic showdown between two modern-day rivals.
Since Season 84, these two powerhouses have delivered battles that keep fans on the edge of their seats—whether it’s a high-stakes semifinal clash or a championship showdown on the league's grandest stage.
As the Maroons and Archers gear up for the Season 88 Finals opener, it’s worth revisiting their high-profile encounters since 2022 onwards.
UAAP Season 87 - Finals UP def. DLSU, 2-1
UP entered Season 87 with one thing on their minds: revenge.
After the heartbreak of Season 86, the Fighting Maroons were determined to get one back over the Green Archers.
But the path wasn’t easy.
DLSU still had their number, sweeping UP in the eliminations and handing them two of their three losses (the other coming from NU) as the Figthing Maroons finished 11-3, earning the second seed and a twice-to-beat advantage.
La Salle, meanwhile, claimed the top seed with a 12-2 record, their only setbacks coming against UE and NU.
Both teams handled their semifinal assignments efficiently as UP disposed of third-ranked UST, while La Salle clipped fourth-seeded Adamson to set-up a highly-anticipated Finals rematch.
[ALSO READ: Back to zero: Stats won't matter for La Salle as it tangles with UP in UAAP Finals rematch]
Game 1 saw the Fighting Maroons strike first, winning 73-65 behind the brilliant play of Quentin Millora-Brown and JD Cagulangan.
Game 2 belonged to two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, who carried La Salle on his shoulders as he scored 11 of his 22 points in the final frame to pilot a thrilling 76-75 comeback and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
With everything on the line, it was UP who completed their redemption arc with a hard-fought 66-62 victory, capturing their first title since 2022. The win also served as a fitting farewell for Millora-Brown and Cagulangan, who was later named as the Finals MVP.
[ALSO READ: UP Fighting Maroons back on top of UAAP mountain with dramatic Game 3 win over La Salle]
On the other hand, Game 3 marked the final UAAP appearance for Quiambao, who was set to continue his career in the KBL in Korea afterwards.
UAAP Season 86 - Finals
DLSU def. UP, 2-1
After missing the Final Four in Season 85, La Salle came into Season 86 with a renewed sense of purpose, led by a new man at the helm, Topex Robinson, and a revitalized Kevin Quiambao.
It didn’t take long for Quiambao to leave his mark as his all-around dominance helped the Green Archers finish 12-2 and the second seed.
Quiambao’s stellar play earned him the first of his two MVP honors, averaging 16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals, making him the first local player to win the award since Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena in 2014 and 2015.
UP, coming off a painful Finals loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in 2022, entered the season with a chip on their shoulder.
The Fighting Maroons claimed the top seed with a 12-2 record, setting the stage for another epic clash between two of the UAAP’s elite programs.
Both teams, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, swiftly dispatched NU and Ateneo respectively in the semifinals.
The Finals began with La Salle dropping Game 1, but the Green Archers refused to back down.
They stormed back with back-to-back victories, culminating in a thrilling 73-69 championship-clinching win.
Quiambao once again proved his mettle, taking home Finals MVP honors and cementing his status as one of the league’s brightest stars at that point.
UAAP Season 84 - Final Four UP def. DLSU, 78-74
Season 84 marked the first time the UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers met in the semifinals during the Final Four era.
And the matchup did not disappoint.
Evan Nelle made a spectacular Final Four debut for La Salle, scoring 26 points with seven assists to help the No. 3 seed erase UP’s twice-to-beat advantage with a clutch 83-80 victory in the first game.
But with their backs against the wall, Carl Tamayo and the Fighting Maroons mounted a miraculous comeback, overcoming a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to snatch a 78-74 win.
Tamayo poured in 12 of his 19 points in the decisive fourth quarter, leading UP on a 22-4 run to punch their ticket to the Finals.
UP would then go on to defeat the Ateneo Blue Eagles in three games, claiming their first UAAP title in 36 years.
Elims head-to-head record since Season 84: DLSU leads UP, 6-4
La Salle has completed back-to-back elimination-round sweeps over the UP in the past two seasons, including this Season 88.
The rivalry has been tightly contested in recent years: UP and La Salle split their elimination-round duels 1-1 in Seasons 85 and 86, with the last sweep by the Maroons coming in Season 84.
With the rubber match set, another unforgettable chapter in the UAAP’s fiercest modern rivalry is about to be written.
Fans can expect a showdown brimming with intensity, drama, and heartbreak—exactly what has defined every clash between the UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers over the years.
All that’s left now is to sit back, soak in the tension, and witness a battle that promises to be nothing short of legendary.
Catch Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals live on One Sports, One Sports+, and on the Pilipinas Live app.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.