UAAP Season 87 Basketball Finals Complete Guide: Teams, Schedule, and Results

I still remember the tension in the Araneta Coliseum during that decisive Game 3 - the air thick with anticipation, the roar of the crowd vibrating through my seat. As someone who's covered UAAP basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless finals, but Season 87 between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons felt particularly special. There was something electric in the way these two teams approached the championship, especially after hearing about that pivotal locker room moment Coach Al Chua shared with his players. "Boss Al told us, you guys should play with emotion. Do your thing, when you play with that, your best comes out," one player recalled, specifically mentioning how this advice resonated with Jericho Cruz. That philosophy of embracing individuality while playing with heart became the defining narrative of this unforgettable finals series.

The road to the championship was anything but straightforward. Ateneo entered the finals with a 13-1 record, looking nearly invincible throughout the elimination rounds, while UP fought their way through with grit and determination, finishing at 11-3. I've always believed that statistics only tell half the story, but these numbers highlighted just how dominant these teams had been. The schedule kicked off on September 24th at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, moved to Game 2 on September 28th at the same venue, and concluded with the climactic Game 3 on October 2nd at the massive Philippine Arena. Having attended all three games, I can tell you the atmosphere shifted dramatically from game to game - starting with cautious optimism from both fan bases, evolving into desperate hope, and culminating in that final game's raw emotional intensity.

What struck me most about this finals series was how Coach Chua's advice manifested on the court. Watching Jericho Cruz play in Game 1, I noticed an immediate difference in his approach. He wasn't just following plays mechanically - he was reading the game, taking calculated risks, and playing with genuine emotion. The result? Ateneo took the first game 75-68, with Cruz contributing 18 points and 7 assists. But UP wasn't going down without a fight. In Game 2, they responded with incredible resilience, winning 71-69 in what I consider one of the most thrilling finishes I've seen in recent UAAP history. The back-and-forth in the final two minutes had everyone on their feet, and when that final buzzer sounded, you could feel the series shifting momentum.

The decisive Game 3 drew over 23,847 spectators - a number that still impresses me when I think about it. Both teams came out with everything they had, but it was Ateneo's ability to balance emotional play with strategic discipline that ultimately made the difference. I remember watching Cruz drive to the basket with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter - he wasn't just executing a play, he was playing with heart, exactly as Coach Chua had encouraged. That moment, for me, encapsulated the entire series. Ateneo clinched the championship with an 80-72 victory, securing their third title in five seasons. Cruz finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists - numbers that don't fully capture how transformative his performance was throughout the series.

Reflecting on Season 87, I'm convinced this finals series will be remembered not just for the trophy, but for how it demonstrated the power of playing authentically. Too often in high-stakes basketball, we see players become rigid, afraid to make mistakes. What made this particular championship so compelling was watching these athletes embrace their unique strengths while working within their team systems. The final statistics show Ateneo shooting 45% from the field overall and 38% from beyond the arc across the three games, but what those numbers don't show is the confidence with which those shots were taken. Having followed UAAP basketball for years, I can confidently say this was among the most emotionally resonant finals I've witnessed. The way both teams carried themselves, the quality of basketball, and the sheer passion displayed set a new standard for what college basketball can be in the Philippines. This wasn't just about winning - it was about how the game should be played, and that's a lesson that extends far beyond any single season.