THE year 2023 will be best remembered on ending championship droughts in the UAAP basketball tournaments.

La Salle returned to the men’s basketball throne after seven years, while University of Santo Tomas pulled off the improbable to end a 17-year wait to become women’s basketball queens.

Far Eastern University-Diliman, meanwhile, annexed its first high school boys basketball title in six years.

The Green Archers leaned on the duo of season MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mythical Five member Evan Nelle to outlast University of the Philippines in the winner-take-all Game 3, 73-69, and cop the Season 86 men’s championship before a record-breaking crowd of 25,192 at the fabled Smart Araneta Coliseum last December 6.

It was La Salle’s 10th title, the fifth most in the league, and the first since the Ben Mbala-led squad ruled in 2016.

It was a championship to remember for the Green Archers, as they suffered the worst Finals loss in the Final Four era, a 67-97 beatdown from the hands of the Fighting Maroons, in the opener before hurdling the next two.

La Salle also rebounded from a sluggish start by winning nine in a row to reach the league’s biggest stage.

“I’m so grateful and honored to be a part of this amazing group of guys. Also, we have to credit the coaches who came before me and built this team. They’ve done a tremendous job and I’m just so grateful for these guys that were with me throughout the season. Can’t thank enough also the coaches,” said coach Topex Robinson, who joined Franz Pumaren, Juno Sauler, and Aldin Ayo in an elite list of La Salle mentors that won the championship right in their first year.

Quiambao bagged the Finals MVP with averages of 14.66 points, 9.33 rebounds, 2.33 assists, and 2.0 blocks in the series that reached the distance.

“Mindset lang na leave it all on the court dahil wala na ngang bukas Game 3 na ito win or go home na. Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na kahit maraming nag-doubt sa amin noong first round, ito na kami champion,” said Quiambao, who logged 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the clincher.

Quiambao became the first player in the men’s division to win both Season and Finals MVP in the same season since King Tamaraw Arwind Santos did it in 2005.

The Green Archers faithful later had a sigh of relief, as Quiambao decided to run it back for a second straight championship, ending speculations about his future in the Taft-based squad.

The season saw Ateneo’s reign came to a end after losing to UP in the Final Four, where the Katipunan-based program became the fourth-ranked squad after ousting Adamson in the playoff.

On the same day, the Tigresses are on top of the women’s basketball world in one of the stunning reversals in the UAAP.

UST foiled National University’s quest for an eight-peat, storming back from 14 down in the fourth to take the all-or-nothing Game 3, 71-69, and clinch the Season 86 championship.

Nikki Villasin, a graduating guard out of Chicago, nailed the biggest basket of her career, a fastbreak layup with 11.8 seconds to go that gave the lead for the Tigresses and the crown.

“I’m really lost for words. Im really so happy for the girls, sila may gawa nito,” said coach Haydee Ong after UST captured a league-best 12th title overall.

Tantoy Ferrer emerged as the Finals MVP with averages of 15.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals, leaving the Tigresses as a winner.

“Alam kong matagal mo nang inaantay ito coach,” said Ferrer, who tallied a double-double of 19 points and 14 points in the decider.

“Alam kong 2018 pa lang coach, nung pumasok kami nina Tacky (Tacatac), sabi ko, ‘Coach, hindi puwede kaming e-exit kami dito sa UST team na walang championship na ibibigay sa iyo. Sa wakas coach nabalik na natin yung korona sa España’,” the forward out of Calapandayan, Zambales added.

The Tigresses were toughened in the Final Four, as they survived the third-ranked Fighting Maroons in the do-or-die to advance.

In high school boys basketball Finals last March, FEU-D pulled off a thrilling 77-76 win over Adamson to reclaim the crown.

The Baby Tamaraws completed a two-game sweep of the title series for their first crown since 2016-17 season.

“Yung sinulat ko sa white board kanina, yung ‘effort is the key’. From jumpball pa lang, nakita ko sa kanila yung effort na gusto nilang kunin ang series na ito,” said FEU-D coach Allan Albano.

It was a sorry loss for the Baby Falcons, who reached the Finals for the first time since 2003, as Justine Garcia’s shotclock-beating bank shot was nullified after Albano won the coach’s challenge and Earl Medina bungled the potential game-winning triple in the dwindling seconds that would have sent the series to a deciding Game 3.

“Saludo rin ako sa Adamson. Hindi sila nag-give up until the final buzzer. Hindi basta-basta ibinigay ang series na ito,” said Albano.

Kirby Mongcopa, who had a 20-20 game in the series opener, was named the Finals MVP. He flirted with a triple-double of 13 rebounds, nine assists and nine points to go along with five steals.

The Baby Falcons are determined to make it up for the Finals defeat, as coach Mike Fermin’s side completed a seven-game sweep of first round entering the Christmas break.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado