Camille Naredo

Ethan Aguas in action for UE against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

Ethan Aguas in action for UE against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan

Article (news)

UAAP Season 87

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739108296421UAAP87 BOYS&#x27; BB - ETHAN AGUAS-3976.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ethan Aguas in action for UE against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media"/>Ethan Aguas in action for UE against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- Ethan Aguas delivered in the clutch as University of the East eclipsed De La Salle-Zobel, 56-51, to snap a three-game slide in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.Aguas, the standout of UE&#x27;s inaugural 16-and-under team last year, scored 12 of his 16 points in the final quarter to propel the Junior Warriors to victory.With the result, UE closed out on the first round on a strong note after a series of tough defeats. After suffering a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Far Eastern University-Diliman and a narrow one-point defeat to National University-Nazareth School, UE salvaged a 3-4 record, tying DLSZ for fifth place at the end of the first round.&quot;Happy for the win, finally naputol na namin yung losing streak. We&#x27;ll take it, a win is a win, masaya na kami doon. We need this win for the second round. If we really want to make it to the Final Four, I think we have to start now,&quot; said second-year Junior Warriors head coach Karl Santos.Trailing 36-37 at the end of the third quarter, Aguas spearheaded a 16-5 UE run to establish a 52-42 cushion with 3:25 remaining.DLSZ, however, refused to back down. The trio of Maco Dabao, Kieffer Alas, and Bonn Daja trimmed the deficit to 52-48 with 1:49 left, but Aguas sealed the win with three crucial free throws, giving UE a comfortable 55-48 lead.Lance Sabroso contributed 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Edry Alejandro added seven points, five rebounds, and two steals in the much-needed win for UE.The Junior Archers, on the other hand, suffered their third straight defeat, dropping to 3-4 and sharing fifth place with UE.Alas led DLSZ with a game-high 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block but committed five turnovers. Daja chipped in nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University finally entered the win column with an 85-73 triumph over the struggling University of the Philippines Integrated School.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739108317741UAAP87 BOYS&#x27; BB - JAY M LEAL-3497.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo&#x27;s Jay-M Leal goes for a layup against UP Integrated School in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Medi"/>Ateneo&#x27;s Jay-M Leal goes for a layup against UP Integrated School in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 9, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media</div>Seventeen-year-old center Jay-M Leal powered the Blue Eagles to their first victory under head coach Ford Arao, tallying 25 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting, along with five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and one steal.Chris Urbina provided ample support with 15 points, nine assists, two rebounds, and one steal, as Ateneo snapped a 12-game losing streak dating back to Season 86.Despite remaining in seventh place with a 1-6 record, Ateneo finally broke its dry spell in UAAP boys&#x27; basketball, securing its first win since January 7, 2024, when they defeated UPIS 70-55 in the second round of Season 86.&quot;Masaya kasi first win ko and kailangan namin yung panalo. Pero in general, marami pa kami kailangan gawin. A win is a win, pero hindi ganoon kaganda yung panalo namin, pero we&#x27;ll take it,&quot; said Arao.With the game tied at 53-all after two free throws from Jaime Gomez de Liaño at the 2:27 mark of the third quarter, the Blue Eagles responded with a massive 20-4 run to seize a commanding 73-57 lead with 6:33 left in the game.Renzo Gatmaitan added 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, along with four rebounds and two steals, while Alfonso Tan sparked Ateneo&#x27;s fourth-quarter surge, finishing with 11 points, six assists, three steals, and two rebounds.UPIS&#x27;s struggles continued, closing the first round at 0-7 and remaining at the bottom of the eight-team standings.The Fighting Maroons have now lost 11 straight games in UAAP boys&#x27; basketball, dating back to January 14, 2024.Season 86 Rookie of the Year Ethan Egea led the Fighting Maroons with 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals, while Rocco Melicor tallied 16 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals.Gomez de Liaño also scored 16 points while grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording one steal.Jhustin Hallare contributed 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals, while Bruce Tubongbanua had 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal in the losing effort.<div>The Scores:</div><div>First Game (Boys):</div>Ateneo (85) - Leal 25, Urbina 15, Gatmaitan 12, Tan 11, Delos Santos 9, Lagdamen 7, Reyes 5, Lacsamana 1, Aquino 0, Ymasa 0, Asistio 0.UPIS (73) - Egea 17, Melicor 16, De Liaño 16, Hallare 11, Tubongbanua 11, Uvero 2, Poquiz 0, Coronel 0.Quarterscores: 19-18, 41-36, 59-55, 85-73.<div>Second Game (Boys):</div>UE (56) - Aguas 16, Sabroso 10, Alejandro 7, Almanza 6, Bual 5, Lagat 5, Lorenzo 3, Bana 2, Timbol 2, Diaz 0, Chua 0.DLSZ (51) - Alas 22, Daja 9, Espinosa 6, Dabao 5, Arejola 4, Borrero 3, Favis 2, Mben 0, Atienza 0, Tailan 0, Reguera 0, Alpapara 0.Quarterscores: 14-8, 26-22, 36-37, 56-51.

Ethan Aguas, the standout of UE's inaugural 16-and-under team last year, scored 12 of his 16 points in the final quarter to propel the Junior Warriors to victory.

Ethan Aguas, the standout of UE's inaugural 16-and-under team last year, scored 12 of his 16 points in the final quarter to propel the Junior Warriors to victory.

UAAP: UE snaps skid at Zobel's expense; Ateneo gets breakthrough win

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

UAAP: UE snaps skid at Zobel's expense; Ateneo gets breakthrough win

ABS-CBN News

Published February 09, 2025 09:54 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

basketball

UAAP

UAAP Season 87

UAAP basketball

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.