THE UST Teletigers Esports Club settled for silver after bowing to the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the finals, 2-0, of the UAAP Season 87 NBA 2K25 tournament at Gateway 2 Quantum Skyview in Quezon City on Friday, May 16.
UST’s Season 87 performance marked an improvement from its finish in the inaugural tournament in August 2024, when both of its teams missed the finals and settled for third- and fourth-place finishes.
The Teletigers ended the elimination round atop Group B with a perfect 3-0 record before defeating DLSU in the semifinals, 2-1, to advance to the finals.
“Masayang-masaya. Marami kaming binago sa practice namin compared to last year,” UST head coach Augusto de Jesus III told the Varsitarian. “Pinaghandaan namin itong finals, kinapos lang talaga.”
In the first game, UST’s Daemiel Argame used the Miami Heat against Ateneo’s Luis Javellanos and the Washington Wizards.
Argame and Javellanos went back and forth in the first two quarters, but UST gained the edge at halftime, 33-28.
It was all UST from there, as it maintained control to end the third with a slim 50-48 advantage.
After trailing in the last minute of the final frame, Argame forced overtime with a wide-open Tyler Herro dunk at the end of regulation, 64-all.
However, the Teletigers failed to find momentum in overtime, as Ateneo’s Bilal Coulibaly scored eight points to draw first blood, 77-71.
In the second game, UST team captain Eryx de los Reyes and his Dallas Mavericks squared off against Ateneo’s Paolo Medina and the San Antonio Spurs, hoping to force a do-or-die match.
However, UST started slow, as De los Reyes could not contain Victor Wembanyama’s dominance, trailing 31-27 at halftime.
The struggle continued, with Ateneo scorching the Teletigers from 3-point range before keeping them at bay to secure a 69-59 victory and clinch its second consecutive championship.
“Siguro i-improve namin ‘yong consistency lang nila. Medjo may kaba; hindi talaga mawala,” he said.
“Magpa-practice lang kami nang magpa-practice para makuha namin ‘yong gold.” Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez
