UAAP Basketball Today: Latest Scores, Highlights and Game Updates

Walking into the arena today, you could feel it—the kind of electric buzz that only UAAP basketball brings. As a longtime follower of collegiate hoops, both here and abroad, I’ve always been struck by how the game here pulses with raw energy, individual flair, and that unmistakable pride of representing a school. But today’s matchups got me thinking about something deeper, something San Beda’s head coach Yuri Escueta recently put into words. He pointed to European basketball as the gold standard when it comes to team play—a model he’s eager to weave into San Beda’s own identity. And watching the games unfold, with Ateneo taking on UP in a nail-biter and La Salle facing UST in what turned into a surprisingly one-sided affair, I couldn’t help but see his point. The final scores? Ateneo clawed their way to a 68-65 win over UP after a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, while La Salle dominated UST 82-70, though the score doesn’t quite reflect how commanding their performance really was.

Now, if you’ve followed my takes before, you know I’m a sucker for well-executed systems. Don’t get me wrong—I love a highlight-reel dunk or a step-back three as much as the next fan. But what really gets me excited is seeing five players move like one organism. That’s what Coach Escueta was getting at. In Europe, he noted, it’s less about isolations and hero-ball and more about spacing, timing, and unselfish reads. Watching La Salle today, I saw glimpses of that. They dished out 22 assists as a team, with their point guard alone accounting for 9. Their ball movement in the half-court was crisp, purposeful—almost rhythmic. Compare that to UST, who relied heavily on one-on-one creation and ended up with just 11 assists and 18 turnovers. It’s no surprise they struggled to keep pace.

Let’s talk about Ateneo and UP, though—that game was a grind. Defense ruled most of the night, and honestly, it wasn’t always pretty. But what stood out to me was how Ateneo, especially in the final five minutes, leaned on their sets and trusted each other. They didn’t force shots down the stretch. Instead, they worked the ball inside, kicked out for open looks, and capitalized on defensive rotations. That’s the kind of basketball Escueta wants to bring back to San Beda—the kind where the system elevates everyone. I remember watching a EuroLeague game last year between Barcelona and Olympiacos. The way they shared the ball, the way every player touched it within a possession—it was a masterclass. And the stats back it up: top European teams average around 20-25 assists per game. Here in the UAAP, that number often hovers around 15-18. It’s a gap worth closing.

Of course, shifting to that style isn’t just an Xs-and-Os thing—it’s cultural. Our local basketball scene celebrates individual brilliance, and I get it. We love seeing a player drop 30 points and take over. But I’ve always believed sustainable success comes from balance. Look at La Salle’s performance today. They had four players in double figures. Their ball movement created open threes and lanes to the basket. They looked… connected. UP, on the other hand, seemed to stall whenever their primary scorer was trapped. They finished with only 9 assists as a team. That’s not going to cut it against disciplined defenses, especially come playoff time.

I’ll be honest—I’m biased toward this European approach. I think it’s the future if our teams want to compete at higher levels, whether in the FIBA arena or regional club tournaments. But adopting it means patience. It means reps. It means players buying into roles that might not always put them in the spotlight. Escueta knows this. He’s spoken about instilling habits—like extra passes, hard screens, and defensive communication—that may not show up in box scores but win games. Watching Ateneo execute down the stretch tonight, I saw that philosophy in motion. They didn’t have a single player score more than 16, but they had contributions up and down the roster.

As the season rolls on, I’ll be keeping a close eye on which teams embrace this team-first ethos. Today’s results already hint at a shift. La Salle’s 52% shooting from the field and +12 rebound margin didn’t happen by accident. It came from movement, trust, and system basketball. Meanwhile, UST’s reliance on isolation sets left them scrambling. For me, the takeaway is clear: the UAAP is at its best when individual talent meets collective purpose. Escueta’s vision for San Beda isn’t just a coaching point—it’s a reminder of what this league can become. If more teams follow that path, we’re in for some beautiful basketball ahead. And as a fan, that’s exactly what I’m here for.