John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

The University of the Philippines and the De La Salle University battle in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball finals in Pasay City on December 10, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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UAAP Season 88 Men's Basketball Finals Game 1

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176544486233320251210-uaap88-finals-game1-MQD22340-MD.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UP Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Harold Alarcon&#x27;s 34-point explosion in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball finals proved to be not enough as University of the Philippines (UP) fell 0-1 in the series, succumbing to De La Salle University, 70–74, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</p><p>Coach Goldwin Monteverde, while acknowledging the offensive prowess of Alarcon, underscored the importance of a collective team effort to keep their title defense bid alive against the Green Archers.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung 34 points ni Harold, I think, of course, kailangan ng team ‘yon. But then, hindi naman pupuwede si Harold lang,&quot; the champion mentor expressed right after the loss.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/10/la-salle-on-cusp-of-reclaiming-uaap-crown-after-drawing-first-blood-vs-up-1831"><strong>READ: La Salle on cusp of reclaiming UAAP crown after drawing first blood vs UP</strong></a></div><p>&quot;To be able to win itong finals na ito, it should take a team to be able to overcome whatever we’re facing in terms of offense,&quot; he went on.</p><p>In the past four finals runs, UP had always won Game 1.</p><p>The script changed this time, and the Maroons will now play catch-up against the Jacob Cortez-led Taft cagers. And Monteverde will look to draw inspiration from their dismal 0-2 start, emphasizing that the &quot;war&#x27;s not yet over.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/10/uaap-jacob-cortez-eager-to-replicate-what-dad-mike-did-for-la-salle-2001"><strong>READ: UAAP: Jacob Cortez eager to replicate what dad Mike did for La Salle</strong></a></div><p>&quot;We just have to play better than this, for one. Pangalawa, try to find out &#x27;yung mga lapses na meron kami. This is not the first time na natalo kami ‘eh, just reminding ourselves na we started this season at 0-2 nga,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I believe &#x27;yung team namin knows how to bounce back from mga ganitong situation. We have just lost a battle; the war is not yet over. We still have two games left, we’re still positive about it.&quot;</p><p>Francis Nnoruka was the other player in double-digit scoring with 13, and they certainly needed the support from Rey Remogat, who was held to three markers during that game.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYB8tjEYGLY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, while acknowledging the offensive prowess of Harold Alarcon, underscored the importance of a collective team effort to keep their title defense bid alive against the La Salle Green Archers. #UAAPSeason88 #UAAPFinals </p>

UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, while acknowledging the offensive prowess of Harold Alarcon, underscored the importance of a collective team effort to keep their title defense bid alive against the La Salle Green Archers. #UAAPSeason88 #UAAPFinals

'Hindi pwedeng si Harold lang': Coach Goldwin calls on UP Maroons to step up

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'Hindi pwedeng si Harold lang': Coach Goldwin calls on UP Maroons to step up

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 11, 2025 06:07 PM PHT

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abssports

basketball

UAAP Season 88

UAAP finals

UAAP basketball

University of the Philippines

Harold Alarcon

Goldwin Monteverde

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