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Tag: UST Growling Tigers

  • UST’s Andwelle Cabanero, NU-Nazareth’s KJ Guada Badajos punch tickets to Jordan Brand global finals in Shanghai 

    UST’s Andwelle Cabanero, NU-Nazareth’s KJ Guada Badajos punch tickets to Jordan Brand global finals in Shanghai 

    The Philippines has found its next two representatives on the global stage.

     

    UST Senior High School standout Andwelle Cabanero and National University-Nazareth School’s KJ Guada Badajos emerged as the last players standing in Jordan Brand’s The One Manila on Saturday, earning the opportunity to carry the country’s colors in the prestigious global finals in Shanghai, China later this month.

     

    With only one ticket available in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions, the country’s brightest young talents battled through a grueling knockout tournament before Cabanero and Badajos separated themselves from the field.

     

    Even Mother Nature could not stop the competition.

     

    Originally set to unfold at the Jordan Flight Deck in Bonifacio Global City, heavy rains forced organizers to transfer the event indoors to Kerry Sports Arena at Shangri-La The Fort. The change in venue, however, did little to cool down the intensity as every possession became a step closer to representing the Philippines on the international stage.

     

    For Cabanero, the road to Shanghai became even tougher after suffering a shoulder injury during the quarterfinals.

     

    Instead of slowing down, the 17-year-old fought through the pain, winning his semifinal before defeating fellow UST Tiger Cub Sean Bohol, 13-9, in an all-UST championship showdown.

     

    “I thought to myself, ‘Why would I waste the opportunity to go to Shanghai?’” said Cabanero.

     

    “My motto is whenever I’m tired or even when I’m hurt with an injury, I don’t give up because the fight isn’t over. Never say die.”

     

    On the girls’ side, Badajos showcased why she is regarded as one of the country’s rising stars.

     

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    The Bukidnon native found herself locked in a 6-all battle against Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball Developmental League campaigner Jenny Paguipo before taking complete control of the contest.

     

    Badajos buried back-to-back three-pointers to create separation before draining another triple late to complete a commanding 17-6 victory and secure her own ticket to Shanghai.

     

    “I’m so happy because I worked really hard for all of this. I learned a lot, and I hope that more people will get to see just what we can do as athletes,” said Badajos.

     

    “Everything happens for a reason, and we don’t know what’s in store for us in our future, so I believe that we should always put in the work to reach our dreams.”

     

    Before facing elite youth players from North America, Europe, and Asia in the global finals on August 29, both champions will undergo an intensive Jordan Brand development program.

     

    The preparation includes basketball sessions with Philippine Jordan Brand athlete Kiefer Ravena, along with strength and conditioning work under Jordan trainers to help the duo get ready for the biggest tournament of their young careers.

     

    Beyond the international competition, even bigger rewards await in Shanghai.

     

    The One Global Finals champion will have the opportunity to win a cash prize, earn recognition as a Jordan Brand ambassador, and be featured in the brand’s global campaign, with Cabanero and Badajos now carrying Philippine basketball’s hopes onto one of the sport’s biggest youth stages.

     

     

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  • UST, San Beda banner Philippine teams in inaugural NSAC Asiabasket World Invitational 

    UST, San Beda banner Philippine teams in inaugural NSAC Asiabasket World Invitational 

    The University of Santo Tomas and San Beda University will spearhead the Philippines’ bid when the country’s top collegiate basketball programs test themselves against international competition in the inaugural NSAC World Invitational next month.

     

    UST, fresh off capturing the 2026 NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour championship, enters the tournament with momentum as the defending NSAC titlist, while San Beda joins the Growling Tigers in leading a strong local contingent that also includes Jose Rizal University and Far Eastern University.

     

    Organized by Asiabasket in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the eight-team tournament will run from August 14 to 16, 2026, giving Filipino student-athletes a rare opportunity to measure themselves against quality programs from across the Asia-Pacific.

     

    Representing the visiting teams are Japan’s Fighting Eagles Nagoya and Tenri University, Australia’s Elite Stacks, and Taiwan’s National Formosa University.

     

    Rather than serving as just another preseason event, the tournament aims to expose Philippine collegiate teams to different styles of play while strengthening international basketball ties.

     

    Asiabasket founder and chief executive officer Jai Reyes believes the competition represents a major step in expanding the reach of local college basketball.

     

    “The NSAC World Invitational is a reflection of our vision to elevate Philippine collegiate basketball beyond our borders,” said the concurrent UAAP basketball commissioner.

     

    “We want to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete against quality international programs while showcasing the talent, passion, and competitiveness of Philippine basketball on a larger stage.”

     

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    Reyes also acknowledged the support of the PSC and SBP in making the event possible.

    “We are truly grateful to the PSC and SBP for believing in this vision and partnering with us for the NSAC World Invitational,” added the former Ateneo standout.

     

    “Together, we’re creating more opportunities for Filipino student-athletes to compete internationally while continuing to raise the standard of collegiate basketball in the Philippines.”

     

    The tournament will feature a knockout format with classification games, ensuring each team plays three games regardless of results. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled on August 14, followed by the semifinals and classification contests on August 15, before the championship and placement games conclude the event on August 16.

     

    Beyond determining the inaugural champion, the NSAC World Invitational hopes to strengthen basketball relationships across the Asia-Pacific while giving Philippine fans a chance to watch international collegiate teams compete on local soil.

     

    For UST, the event also presents another opportunity to build on the confidence gained from its 2026 NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour title, while San Beda and the rest of the Philippine representatives look to prove that the country’s collegiate programs can hold their own against respected international opposition.

     

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  • UST sends early UAAP message after taking down NU for AsiaBasket crown 

    UST sends early UAAP message after taking down NU for AsiaBasket crown 

    UST’s AsiaBasket championship wasn’t built in one game. Long before lifting the trophy, the Growling Tigers had already proven they belonged in the toughest moments of the tournament.

     

    UST completed an unbeaten run in the AsiaBasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour after defeating NU, 95-84, in the championship game Sunday at Blue Eagle Gym — capping off a campaign that gave the Tigers more than just preseason hardware.

     

    It gave them momentum.More importantly, it gave them validation.

     

    AsiaBasket featured a field loaded with some of the Philippines’ top collegiate basketball programs, making it one of the more valuable preseason measuring sticks ahead of the upcoming UAAP season. And UST passed every challenge placed in front of it.

     

    Their toughest test may have come one game earlier. The Tigers outlasted defending UAAP champion De La Salle University, 115-107, in overtime to book their place in the finals — a result that immediately elevated the significance of their title run.

     

    In that semifinal battle, UST leaned on a massive offensive showing led by Amiel Acido, who erupted for 33 points and six rebounds. Akowe added 24 points and nine boards, while Crisostomo nearly completed a triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.

     

    That performance wasn’t just about surviving La Salle. It showed UST could match up against championship-level competition and still find ways to win.

     

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    That confidence carried into the final. NU started fast and built early separation behind Reinhard Jumamoy, taking a 28-21 lead after the first quarter and pushing the advantage into double digits at one point in the second.

     

    But UST stayed connected. Mark Llemit quietly anchored the comeback effort and helped cut the deficit to 52-45 at halftime before the Tigers flipped the game in the third quarter.

     

    UST opened the second half with a 10-2 burst, grabbed its first lead at 55-54, and seized full control later in the period after Acido buried a buzzer-beating three to push the lead to 78-68.

     

    From there, the Tigers managed the game and closed the door.

     

    Llemit finished with 27 points and seven rebounds to earn Finals MVP honors, while Acido added 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the title-clinching win.

     

    For UST, this wasn’t just about winning AsiaBasket. It was about building something bigger.

     

    Beating La Salle — the reigning UAAP champion — and then finishing off NU in the final gives the Tigers one of the stronger preseason stories heading into UAAP Season 89.

     

    If preseason tournaments are supposed to reveal who is improving, UST may have already delivered one of the clearest messages: this group is not just preparing for the season — it looks ready to compete.

     

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  • UST’s Angge Poyos, Josh Ybañez take early control of UAAP Season 88 MVP race after Round 1

    UST’s Angge Poyos, Josh Ybañez take early control of UAAP Season 88 MVP race after Round 1

    As the first round of the UAAP Season 88 volleyball tournament wraps up, the race for individual supremacy has begun to take shape—and the early spotlight belongs to the University of Santo Tomas’ star players.


    Both divisions currently feature Thomasian standouts at the forefront of the Most Valuable Player conversation. For the women’s side, Angge Poyos has emerged as the early statistical leader, while on the men’s side, two-time MVP Josh Ybañez is once again positioning himself as the player to beat.

     

    Poyos, who already made waves earlier in her collegiate career by claiming the Rookie of the Year honors in Season 86, is building on that promise with a dominant start to the season. 

     

    The UST Golden Tigresses star finished the first round with 156.22 statistical points, giving her a comfortable 9.322-point cushion over her closest challenger.

     

    Trailing her is Shaina Nitura of the Adamson Lady Falcons with 147.200 statistical points, while Angel Canino of the De La Salle Lady Spikers sits in third with 142.800. Rounding out the top five are Adamson’s Nigerian standout Frances Mordi with 139.200 and Gerzel Petallo of the FEU Lady Tamaraws with 137.500.

     

    Beyond the numbers, Poyos has been a major catalyst for UST’s campaign. The third-year outside hitter has scored 111 points through seven games—coming from 95 spikes, 12 blocks, and four service aces which helped the Golden Tigresses secure four victories in the opening round. UST currently sits tied for third place alongside Adamson and FEU in the standings.

     

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    Efficiency has also been one of Poyos’ defining strengths this season. She leads the entire women’s tournament in spiking efficiency with a 39.92 percent success rate, underscoring her role as the primary offensive engine of the Golden Tigresses.

     

    On the men’s side, Ybañez is once again proving why he has already captured two MVP trophies. The UST Golden Spikers captain topped the men’s statistical race after Round 1 with 158.000 statistical points, placing him firmly on course for what could be a third MVP award.

     

    The national team standout tallied 121 total points through seven matches built on 110 spikes, seven service aces, and four blocks to rank third in the league in scoring. His offensive efficiency remains impressive, posting a 41.98 percent spiking success rate and averaging 0.28 service aces per set.

     

    However, Ybañez’s impact extends beyond offense. His defensive contributions have been equally vital, ranking second in the league with a 62.14 percent efficiency rate.

     

    The Golden Spikers ended the first round with a 5–2 record, tied for second place with National University. Their strong position in the standings reflects the consistent production from their leader on both ends of the floor.

     

    Still, the MVP race in the men’s division remains far from settled. The NU tandem of Michaelo Buddin and Leo Ordiales are close behind with 153.750 and 152.083 statistical points, respectively. Meanwhile, the undefeated FEU Tamaraws are also represented in the race through Dryx Saavedra (127.083) and Mikko Espartero (124.583), who complete the top five.

     

    With the first half of the tournament complete, attention now shifts to the crucial second round where the standings and the MVP race could dramatically change. The next phase of the competition begins Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where UE Red Warriors face FEU Tamaraws and NU Bulldogs take on the UP Fighting Maroons.

     

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  • Poyos, Jurado rebounds UST; Canino triple-double keeps La Salle perfect over Nitura, Adamson 

    Poyos, Jurado rebounds UST; Canino triple-double keeps La Salle perfect over Nitura, Adamson 

    The scoring punch of Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado fueled a much-needed response from the UST Golden Tigresses as they turned back the UP Fighting Maroons women’s volleyball team in four sets, 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20, in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament action Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    Still reeling from a straight-sets defeat to the Adamson Lady Falcons days earlier, UST leaned heavily on its offensive tandem to halt the slide and regain its rhythm in the tournament.

     

    Poyos spearheaded the charge with 24 points while contributing on the floor with seven digs and six receptions. Jurado complemented her teammate with 16 points as the Tigresses steadied themselves after dropping the opening set and eventually seized control of the match.

     

    The win lifted UST to its third victory in six outings, with Jurado commending the team’s response after the previous setback.

     

    Support also came from Jonna Perdido, who added 13 points along with steady floor defense, while Julia Balingit chipped in four points at crucial moments. Setter Cassie Carballo orchestrated the offense with 18 excellent sets while also contributing a point and three digs.

     

    UST’s composure late in the fourth set proved decisive. Protecting a slim advantage, the Tigresses strung together three straight points courtesy of Balingit, Perdido and Avril Bron to widen the gap and put the match out of reach.

     

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    Although service miscues from both sides briefly halted the momentum, the Tigresses maintained their edge long enough to secure the bounce-back victory.

     

    For UP, Niña Ytang delivered 14 points while Jelai Gajero added 12 markers. Their efforts, however, could not prevent the Fighting Maroons from absorbing their second straight defeat and third loss in their last four games.

     

    Earlier in the day, the De La Salle Lady Spikers preserved their perfect record, surviving a gritty challenge from Adamson in a five-set thriller, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5.

     

    Shevana Laput delivered a career-best 26 points built on 19 attacks, six blocks and a service ace, while Angel Canino added 19 points along with all-around contributions on defense and reception.

     

    The Lady Spikers struggled to establish rhythm early but rediscovered their form in the deciding frame. Holding a narrow 7-5 advantage, La Salle unleashed a dominant finishing run, scoring eight unanswered points capped by consecutive attacks from Shane Reterta to seal their sixth consecutive victory.

     

    Despite committing more errors than Adamson, La Salle still managed to keep its unbeaten campaign intact, having dropped just three sets throughout the season so far.

     

    Adamson drew strong performances from Frances Mordi, who poured in 22 points, and Shaina Nitura, who finished with 21 points to go along with solid reception and defensive numbers.

     

    However, the Lady Falcons struggled to generate consistent offense in the deciding set, allowing the Lady Spikers to pull away and escape with the victory.

     

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  • UST looks to rebound against Ateneo, La Salle eyes third straight win on Wednesday UAAP volleyball clash 

    UST looks to rebound against Ateneo, La Salle eyes third straight win on Wednesday UAAP volleyball clash 

    The UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball action heats up this Wednesday as the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses face off against the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

     

     While De La Salle University looks to extend its winning streak against the University of the Philippines.

     

    UST is coming off a tough 3-set defeat to the La Salle Lady Spikers, falling 25-14, 25-15, 26-24. Despite the setback, the Golden Tigresses are determined to regroup and secure their first win of the first round. 

     

    Angge Poyos emerged as a standout performer in the match against La Salle, delivering consecutive cross-court spikes and a clutch service ace that kept UST alive late in the third set. 

     

    Xyza Gula also made significant contributions, showcasing her versatility and court awareness.

     

    Hoping that the team could bounce back and have their first win against the Lady Eagles, a team who also aims to have their first win in the season after losing in their previous game against UP (17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14). 

     

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    For the 3pm headliner game, DLSU takes on the University of the Philippines who are fresh off a five-setter victory over the Ateneo Lady Eagles, and are looking to sustain their strong start to the UAAP season with two consecutive wins. 

     

    The Diliman-based squad was led by Nina Ytang and Fina Ali who scored 15 points and 13 points respectively for the Fighting Maroons. 

     

    Captain Shevana Laput leveraged her height to dominate at the net, scoring consecutive points that sealed a 3-0 victory for the Lady Spikers. Laput led her team’s charge alongside Angel Canino, while rookie Eshana Nunag stood out as the player of the game with 16 excellent sets and three points, signaling a promising start to her collegiate career.

     

    With the upcoming UAAP weekend showdowns, La Salle enters with a 2-0 record, behind National University (3-0) and the University of the Philippines (2-0) at the top of the standings. The Lady Spikers are expected to carry their momentum into their next game against UP, aiming for a third consecutive victory.

     

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  • PH bets UST, JRU brace for Japan–Korea test in Pinoyliga Global Invitational

    PH bets UST, JRU brace for Japan–Korea test in Pinoyliga Global Invitational

    Philippine collegiate contenders are set to measure their progress against some of Asia’s rising basketball programs as University of Santo Tomas and Jose Rizal University banner the local challenge in the Pinoyliga Global Invitational Cup Series.

     

    The tournament, staged by Pinoyliga as part of its growing international initiative, brings in Japan’s powerhouse Tokai University along with visiting squads from South Korea, creating a rare regional matchup for teams from both the UAAP and NCAA Philippines.

     

    For the Growling Tigers and the Heavy Bombers, the event serves as more than just a preseason tune-up—it is a benchmark opportunity against disciplined international systems known for pace, spacing, and structured development.

     

    Tokai University arrives with a competitive core that includes B.League-linked players Todoroki Rui, Togaeri Shori, and Sato Yu, the latter also part of Japan’s under-21 national pool. The program’s reputation for producing elite talent continues to resonate across Asia, most notably through former standout Yuki Kawamura, who previously had a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies and is now with the Chicago Bulls.

     

    Another Tokai alumnus, Takuya Nakamaya, currently plays for the Akita Northern Happinets, further underscoring the program’s strong pipeline to professional basketball.

     

    Pinoyliga Cup director Benny Benitez emphasized that exposing local squads to international competition remains a key objective.

     

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    “We all know that UST is one of the top teams in the UAAP following a Final Four stint in the last UAAP and they are gearing up for another semifinals run this year, while the JRU Heavy Bombers, with their recent build-up for the NCAA, is a very solid team this year,” said Benitez.

     

    The inclusion of South Korean schools Korea University and Sangmyung University builds on Pinoyliga’s earlier Asian window initiative, where Korean collegiate teams tested local programs in fast-paced matchups that highlighted the evolving regional style of play.

     

    Event organizer Prime Edge continues to expand the tournament’s international footprint, positioning the series as a developmental bridge between Philippine college basketball and its Asian counterparts. 

     

    Due to schedule constraints, Tokai will play three straight days before returning to Japan, adding urgency and intensity to the compact four-team format. A third Philippine squad is still being finalized to complete the field.

     

    All games are set at the gym of Enderun Colleges in Taguig, where local fans will get an early glimpse of how Philippine collegiate teams stack up against some of the region’s most structured programs.

     

    With UST and JRU carrying the home banner, the Invitational Cup becomes not just a preseason tournament—but an early proving ground for Philippine teams aiming to keep pace with Asia’s evolving basketball landscape. 

     

    The Growling Tigers are also aiming to defend their crown after defeating the UE Red Warriors in last year’s edition. 

     

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