UAAP Season 82 basketball tournaments

UAAP Season 82
All For More
Host school	Ateneo de Manila University
Duration	November 16 & 20, 2019
Arena(s)	Smart Araneta Coliseum; Mall of Asia Arena
Finals MVP	Thirdy Ravena
Winning coach	Tab Baldwin
Semifinalists	UP Fighting Maroons; FEU Tamaraws
TV network(s)	ABS-CBN Sports and Action ; Liga ; ABS-CBN ; iWant
Duration	November 20 & 23, 2019
Arena(s)	Mall of Asia Arena
Finals MVP	Monique Allison del Carmen
Winning coach	Patrick Aquino
Semifinalists	FEU Lady Tamaraws; Adamson Lady Falcons
Duration	March 6 & 9, 2020
Arena(s)	Filoil Flying V Centre
Finals MVP	Carl Tamayo
Winning coach	Goldwin Monteverde
Semifinalists	Adamson Baby Falcons; Ateneo Blue Eaglets
Duration	March 6 & 9, 2020
Arena(s)	Filoil Flying V Centre
Winning coach	Ewon Arayi (Adamson) and; Aileen Grajales (UST)

The UAAP Season 82 basketball tournaments were the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball tournaments for the 2019–20 school year.

Jensen Ilagan, the technical director of the regional ASEAN Basketball League was appointed commissioner for the season's basketball tournaments on August 6, 2019.^[1]

The senior men's and women's tournaments began on September 4, 2019,^[2] while the juniors' division which was sub-hosted by National University held their opening games on November 13 for the boys' tournament^[3] and on January 11, 2020 for the newly formed girls' competition.^[4]

The men's defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles won all 14 elimination round games to become the only second men's basketball team to advance to the UAAP Finals outright (after UE in 2007). The remaining Final Four teams figured in the stepladder format to determine Ateneo's finals opponent. UST defeated FEU in the first round to meet UP in the second round, who are holding their first twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four era. The Growling Tigers defeated the Fighting Maroons twice to deny UP's finals rematch against Ateneo and become the lowest-seeded basketball team in UAAP history to have competed in the championship round.

In the first #1 vs #4 UAAP Finals match-up in any of the league's events, the Blue Eagles swept the finals for a second consecutive year, being crowned undefeated champions (and the first men's basketball team in UAAP history to pose a 16–0 season win sweep record). Graduating player Thirdy Ravena became the first athlete in UAAP history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.

The women's defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs also won all elimination round games. In the stepladder, FEU outlasted Adamson in the first round, to meet #2 seeded UST in the next round. UST needed its twice-to-beat advantage to eliminate the Lady Tamaraws from contention. The Tigresses fell short against the NU Lady Bulldogs, who were without their best player Jack Animam, who was injured. The Lady Bulldogs won their sixth consecutive title, all undefeated seasons.

The juniors' division introduced a girls' tournament, a demonstration sport. The boys' defending champions, the NSNU Bullpups, finished the elimination round undefeated. Last year's finalist, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, were defeated by the Adamson Baby Falcons in the first round of the stepladder. FEU arranged a Finals match-up with the Bullpups after beating the Baby Falcons in the second round. The Bullpups finished the season undefeated though, winning both Finals games.

The inaugural girls' tournament featured four teams, with the top 2 teams qualifying for the Finals. The Adamson Lady Baby Falcons finished the elimination round undefeated, while the UST Junior Tigresses fended off the DLSZ Lady Junior Archers in their last elimination round game to qualify for the Finals. The two teams split the first two Finals games, with the second game held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAAP then canceled the tournament, declaring both teams co-champions.

Teams

All eight member universities of the UAAP fielded teams in all two divisions. Only four high schools fielded in teams for the inaugural girls' basketball tournament.

University	Men's team	Women's team	High school	Boys' team	Girls' team
Adamson University (AdU)	Soaring Falcons	Lady Falcons	Adamson University (AdU)	Baby Falcons	Lady Baby Falcons
Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU)	Blue Eagles	Lady Eagles	Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU)	Blue Eaglets	Lady Eaglets
De La Salle University (DLSU)	Green Archers	Lady Archers	De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ)	Junior Archers	Lady Junior Archers
Far Eastern University (FEU)	Tamaraws	Lady Tamaraws	Far Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D)	Baby Tamaraws	No team
National University (NU)	Bulldogs	Lady Bulldogs	Nazareth School (NSNU)	Bullpups	No team
University of the East (UE)	Red Warriors	Lady Warriors	University of the East (UE)	Junior Warriors	No team
University of the Philippines Diliman (UP)	Fighting Maroons	Fighting Maroons	University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS)	Junior Maroons	No team
University of Santo Tomas (UST)	Growling Tigers	Tigresses	University of Santo Tomas (UST)	Tiger Cubs	Tigress Cubs

Coaches

The UE Red Warriors' Lawrence Chongson and the De La Salle Green Archers' Jermaine Byrd were both recognized by the UAAP as active consultants of their respective teams. Gian Nazario who had been listed by La Salle as their coach clarified that the school is yet to make an announcement regarding Byrd's official appointment.^[5] Bong Tan, who had replaced Joe Silva as coach explained the unique setup in their team. With Chongson as consultant, he is able to trust him and take a backseat during games.^[6]

Tan died on November 11, 2019. It was reported that he had collapsed while playing in a basketball game in Mandaluyong.^[7]

University	Men's coach	Women's coach	Boys' coach	Girls' coach
Adamson University (AdU)	Franz Pumaren	Ewon Arayi	Mike Fermin	Ewon Arayi^[8]
Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU)	Tab Baldwin	Katrina Quimpo	Reggie Varilla	Ron Camara^[9]
De La Salle University (DLSU) De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ)	Gian Nazario^[10]	Pocholo Villanueva	Boris Aldeguer	Ginny Velarde^[9]
Far Eastern University (FEU) Far Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D)	Olsen Racela	Bert Flores	Michael Oliver	No team
National University (NU) Nazareth School (NSNU)	Jamike Jarin	Patrick Aquino	Goldwin Monteverde	No team
University of the East (UE)	Bong Tan^[11]	Aileen Lebornio	Estong Ballesteros	No team
University of the Philippines Diliman (UP) University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS)	Bo Perasol	Paul Ramos	Paolo Mendoza	No team
University of Santo Tomas (UST)	Aldin Ayo	Haydee Ong	Bonnie Garcia	Aileen Grajales^[12]

Coaching changes

Team	Outgoing coach	Manner of departure	Date	Replaced by	Date
De La Salle Green Archers	Louie Gonzales	Fired	December 14, 2018^[13]	Gian Nazario	May 5, 2019^[10]
UE Junior Warriors	Florence Conlu	Resigned	May 23, 2019	Anton Brodett	May 23, 2019^[14]
Ateneo Lady Eagles	Anthony John Flores			Katrina Quimpo	^[15]
UP Lady Maroons	Kenneth Marius Raval			Paul John Ramos	^[16]
UE Red Warriors	Joe Silva	Resigned	September 3, 2019	Bong Tan	September 3, 2019^[11]
UE Junior Warriors	Anton Brodett	Resigned	October 16, 2019^[17]	Estong Ballesteros	October 21, 2019^[18]

Venues

The Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City are the primary venues for the men's tournament, and the venues for the Finals series for the women's tournament. The Ynares Center in Antipolo is an alternative venue for the men's tournament. The Quadricentennial Pavilion in UST Manila and the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City are the alternate and main venue for the women's and boys' tournaments, respectively.

The girls tournament is held at the Paco Arena in Manila.^[12]

Men's tournament

Elimination round

Team standings

Pos	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Ateneo Blue Eagles (H)	14	0	1.000	—	Advance to the Finals^{[lower-alpha 1]}
2	UP Fighting Maroons	9	5	.643	5	Twice-to-beat in stepladder round 2
3	FEU Tamaraws	8	6	.571^{[lower-alpha 2]}	6	Proceed to stepladder round 1
4	UST Growling Tigers	8	6	.571^{[lower-alpha 2]}	6	Proceed to stepladder round 1
5	De La Salle Green Archers	7	7	.500	7
6	Adamson Soaring Falcons	4	10	.286^{[lower-alpha 3]}	10
7	UE Red Warriors	4	10	.286^{[lower-alpha 3]}	10
8	NU Bulldogs	2	12	.143	12

Source: ABS-CBN Sports
Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if tied for #2 or #4, one-game playoff; 3) head-to-head record; 4) head-to-head point differential; 5) overall point differential
(H) Hosts
Notes:

↑ As Ateneo won all of their elimination round games, the stepladder format was used instead of the regular Final Four format.
1 2 Head-to-head record: FEU 1–1 UST (FEU +6)
1 2 Head-to-head record: Adamson 1–1 UE (Adamson +5)

Match-up results

	Round 1							Round 2
Team ╲ Game	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Adamson
Ateneo
La Salle
FEU
NU
UE
UP
UST

Source:
= Win; = OT win; = Loss; = OT loss

Scores

Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.

Teams	AdU	ADMU	DLSU	FEU	NU	UE	UP	UST
Adamson Soaring Falcons	—	52–70	61–68	71–83	84–83*	91–80	82–83*	78–71
Ateneo Blue Eagles	80–74	—	81–69	63–46	71–50	85–68	89–63	71–70
De La Salle Green Archers	89–63	69–77	—	55–66	83–82	88–89	71–72	92–77
FEU Tamaraws	63–60	55–65	81–60	—	39–61	81–65	55–61	74–82
NU Bulldogs	53–72	51–88	61–85	85–79*	—	72–78	79–80	74–87*
UE Red Warriors	80–74	50–84	59–65	58–82	79–77	—	56–62	82–95
UP Fighting Maroons	81–77	64–86	71–68	79–82*	80–77	78–75	—	69–85
UST Growling Tigers	80–74	52–66	79–80	58–72	88–76	101–73	84–78	—

Source: ABS-CBN Sports
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Bracket


Stepladder round 1 (Single-elimination)			Stepladder round 2 (No. 2 has twice-to-beat advantage)				Finals (Best-of-three series)



							1	Ateneo	91	86

			2	UP	69	65	4	UST	77	79

3	FEU	71	4	UST	89	68

4	UST	81

Stepladder semifinals

First round

This is a single-elimination game. FEU sustains the current longest playoffs streak, appearing in all playoffs since 2013. For UST, this is their first playoffs appearance since their 2015 runner-up finish.

S+A

November 6
4:00 p.m.PHT

Stats

FEU Tamaraws	71–81	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 16–26, 12–28, 28–16, 15–11
Pts: Ken Tuffin 20 Rebs: Patrick Tchuente 11 Asts: Ljay Gonzales 9		Pts: Soulémane Chabi Yo 25 Rebs: Soulémane Chabi Yo 11 Asts: Mark Nonoy 7
UST advances to the stepladder round 2

Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Nestor Sambrano, Mollie de Luna, Aaron Cañete

UST led by 26 at halftime. Ken Tuffin led an FEU scoring run in the third quarter that cut the lead to 10. Rhenz Abando and Renzo Subido scored back-to-back three-pointers to end the third quarter with UST up by 14. FEU then again had 9–0 run to cut the lead to five, but Subido and Soulemane Chabi Yo scored eight points together to put the Tigers up for good. Tuffin and Xyrus Torres cut the lead 78–71 but that was the closest the Tamaraws can get.^[19]

Second round

The UP Fighting Maroons have a twice-to-beat advantage. This is UP's second consecutive playoffs appearance, and the first time they have the twice-to-beat advantage.

S+A

November 10
4:00 p.m.PHT

Stats

UP Fighting Maroons	69–89	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 13–19, 11–22, 23–19, 22–29
Pts: Juan Gómez de Liaño 20 Rebs: Bright Akhuetie 18 Asts: Ricci Rivero 5		Pts: Abando, Chabi Yo 17, each Rebs: Soulémane Chabi Yo 15 Asts: Renzo Subido 12

Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Attendance: 17,722
Referees: Ricor Buaron, Julius Medillo, John Lester Celeste

S+A

November 13
4:00 p.m.PHT

Stats

UP Fighting Maroons	65–68	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 6–18, 22–11, 16–20, 21–19
Pts: Bright Akhuetie 16 Rebs: Bright Akhuetie 17 Asts: Bright Akhuetie 4		Pts: Soulémane Chabi Yo 22 Rebs: Soulémane Chabi Yo 16 Asts: Mark Nonoy 6
UST wins series in two games

Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
Attendance: 18,548
Referees: Edgar Orpilla, Mollie de Luna, Aaron Cañete

UST, which has never lost to UP this season, led 19–13 in the first quarter, with Renzo Subido and Rhenz Abando converting multiple three-pointers. Abando and CJ Cansino scored for the Tigers in the second quarter, to extend the lead to 18. Trailing at halftime 41–24, Juan Gomez de Liaño scored seven consecutive points to cut the lead to 12, but he injured his ankle, and the Tigers had another run to lead 52–33. Bright Akhuetie and the return of Gomez de Liaño cut the deficit to 11, but UST closed out the quarter scoring on each of its possessions to lead 60–47. UP cut the lead again to 11, but Sherwin Concepcion and Mark Nonoy made back-to-back three pointers to put UST up for good, extending the series to a deciding Game 2.^[20]

UST started the deciding Game 2 the same way Game 1 started, making a double-digit lead, and limiting UP to just 6 points after the first quarter. The Fighting Maroons outscored the Tigers in the second quarter though to cut the lead to one point at halftime. In the fourth quarter, UP led for the first time in the series, off a Gomez de Liaño jump-shot, and extended the lead further off a Jun Manzo lay-up. Akhuetie then suffered from cramps, that led to Manzo fouling a UST player to stop the clock; it was his fifth and he was disqualified from the game. UP led by four just after the two-minute warning off a Kobe Paras slam dunk, but Abando scored on a fast-break to cut the lead to a single possession. Ricci Rivero missed on a lay-up for UP, Renzo Subido made a three-pointer to give UST the lead for good, and the Tigers advance to the Finals.^[21]

Finals

This is a best-of-three playoff. This is Ateneo's fourth consecutive Finals appearance, and their first after winning all elimination round games. This is UST's first Finals appearance since their 2015 runner-up finish vs. FEU.

ABS-CBN
S+A

November 16
4:00 p.m.PHT

Stats

Ateneo Blue Eagles	91–77	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 32–17, 22–22, 22–19, 15–19
Pts: Thirdy Ravena 32 Rebs: Angelo Kouame 12 Asts: Matt Nieto 6		Pts: Mark Nonoy 26 Rebs: CJ Cansino 13 Asts: CJ Cansino 6

Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Attendance: 19,176
Referees: Michael Tolentino, Mollie de Luna, Julius Medillo

S+A

November 20
4:00 p.m.PHT

Stats

Ateneo Blue Eagles	86–79	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 31–18, 11–14, 25–30, 19–17
Pts: Thirdy Ravena 17 Rebs: Angelo Kouame 8 Asts: Ravena , Ma. Nieto 5 each		Pts: Rhenz Abando 16 Rebs: Soulémane Chabi Yo 19 Asts: Nonoy, Subido 5 each
Ateneo wins series, 2–0

Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
Attendance: 20,198
Referees: Ricor Buaron, Jaime Rivano, Aaron Cañete

Finals Most Valuable Player: Thirdy Ravena (Ateneo Blue Eagles)

Ateneo started Game 1 on an 18–2 run and never looked back to take a wire-to-wire victory. A UST scoring run led by Mark Nonoy cut the lead to two in the second quarter, but that's the closest the Tigers could get as Ateneo had its own 13–1 to end the first half. Ateneo increased its lead to 23 in the third quarter, and Nonoy's back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth period were canceled out by Angelo Kouame and Matt Nieto's baskets. Thirdy Ravena scored a season-high 32 points, Kouame had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and SJ Belangel scored 12 for Ateneo, who shot 52.05% from the field as a team.^[22]

Awards

UAAP Season 82 men's basketball champions
Ateneo Blue Eagles 11th title, third consecutive title

Most Valuable Player: Soulémane Chabi Yo (UST Growling Tigers)
Rookie of the Year: Mark Nonoy (UST Growling Tigers)
Mythical Team:
- Soulémane Chabi Yo (UST Growling Tigers)
- Justine Baltazar (De La Salle Green Archers)
- Jamie Malonzo (De La Salle Green Archers)
- Kobe Paras (UP Fighting Maroons)
- Rey Suerte (UE Red Warriors)
PSBankable Player of the Season: Thirdy Ravena (Ateneo Blue Eagles)^[23]
AXA Know You Can Player of the Season: William Navarro (Ateneo Blue Eagles)

Players of the Week


Week ending	Player	Team	Ref.
September 8	Rhenz Abando	UST Growling Tigers	^[24]
September 15	Rey Suerte	UE Red Warriors	^[25]
September 22	Kobe Paras	UP Fighting Maroons	^[26]
September 29	Ange Kouame	Ateneo Blue Eagles	^[27]
October 6	Justine Baltazar	De La Salle Green Archers	^[28]
October 20	CJ Cansino	UST Growling Tigers	^[29]
October 27	Jun Manzo	UP Fighting Maroons	^[30]
November 3	SJ Belangel	Ateneo Blue Eagles	^[31]

Statistics

Players' statistical points

#	Player	Team	Total
1	Soulémane Chabi Yo	UST Growling Tigers	76.00
2	Angelo Kouame	Ateneo Blue Eagles	72.93
3	Adama Diakhite	UE Red Warriors	70.54
4	Bright Akhuetie	UP Fighting Maroons	67.21
5	Justine Baltazar	De La Salle Green Archers	64.00

Season player highs

Statistic	Player	Team	Average
Points	Alex Diakhite	UE Red Warriors	17.62
Rebounds	Soulémane Chabi Yo	UST Growling Tigers	14.71
Assists	Jun Manzo	UP Fighting Maroons	4.29
Steals	Bright Akhuetie	UP Fighting Maroons	1.57
Blocks	Angelo Kouame	Ateneo Blue Eagles	3.86

Game player highs

Statistic	Player	Team	Total	Opponent
Points	Jamie Malonzo	De La Salle Green Archers	34	Adamson Soaring Falcons
Rebounds	Justine Baltazar	De La Salle Green Archers	25	NU Bulldogs
Assists	Jerom Lastimosa	Adamson Soaring Falcons	9	NU Bulldogs
Steals	Kobe Paras	UP Fighting Maroons	6	FEU Tamaraws
Blocks	Angelo Kouame	Ateneo Blue Eagles	7	NU Bulldogs UP Fighting Maroons

Game team highs

Statistic	Team	Total	Opponent
Points	UST Growling Tigers	101	UE Red Warriors
Rebounds	De La Salle Green Archers	66	NU Bulldogs
Assists	Ateneo Blue Eagles	26	NU Bulldogs
Steals	UP Fighting Maroons	13	FEU Tamaraws
Blocks	Ateneo Blue Eagles	11	UE Red Warriors

Season team highs

Statistic	Team	Average
Points	UST Growling Tigers	79.21
Rebounds	De La Salle Green Archers	51.29
Assists	Ateneo Blue Eagles	16.93
Steals	UP Fighting Maroons	7.07
Blocks	Ateneo Blue Eagles	7.14

Broadcast notes

ABS-CBN Sports is the last broadcaster of the UAAP Season 82 Men's Basketball games to aired on S+A and Liga the network was a 20 years of UAAP games. However, their contract with the network's sports division expired and leaved in jeopardy, due to the issue of legislative franchise renewal and the denial of the franchise, which leads to the sports division's dissolution following their retrenchment on August 31, 2020. As of October 21, 2020, the league chose Cignal TV/One Sports as a new partner to air the UAAP games next season.

Game	Play-by-play	Analyst	Courtside Reporters
Semis R1	Nikko Ramos	Mikee Reyes	Makyla Chavez and Mariz Domingo
Semis R2, Game 1	Mico Halili	Marco Benitez	Makyla Chavez and Yani Mayo
Semis R2, Game 2	Boom Gonzalez	Christian Luanzon	Makyla Chavez and Yani Mayo
Finals, Game 1	Mico Halili	Ronnie Magsanoc	Frannie Reyes and Makyla Chavez
Finals, Game 2	Nikko Ramos	Christian Luanzon	Frannie Reyes and Makyla Chavez

Women's tournament

The NU Lady Bulldogs won their 96th straight match when they annexed their sixth straight championship on November 23, 2019.^[32]

The UST Growling Tigresses ended a 13-year finals drought when they defeated the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the second round of the stepladder semifinals on November 16. UST has been eliminated in the semifinals for two years in Seasons 80 and 81, and were defeated in the fourth-seed playoff the previous year. The Tigresses last qualified for the finals in Season 69, under coach Peque Tan and league MVP Marichu Bacaro, when coach Haydee Ong was still handling Ateneo.^[33]

The UP Lady Maroons ended their 38-game losing streak when they defeated University of the East in the second round of eliminations on October 12, 2019. Graduating player Pat Pesquera's three-point attempt from the halfcourt line went in before the buzzer sounded for a 55–52 lead, effectively avoiding an overtime period.^[34]