The Battle of the Katipunan presided over 15,132 attendees in which the Fighting Maroons and Blue Eagles extended for overtime.

UP had the control of the game until the second frame but Ateneo made it difficult for the Fighting Maroons to conquer in the third frame as the blue and white squad rained a series of threes to enter the fourth frame with a 47-46 lead.

Ateneo continued their exemplary offense in the fourth quarter but UP pushed their way out as CJ Cansino fired a flawless three, 59-all, to force overtime. 

Ateneo was leading almost throughout the five-minute overtime but the Fighting Maroons proved that there’s “nowhere to go but UP” as Marck Diouf’s two-handed dunk tied the game at 69-all, followed by a faded three from JD Cagulangan to seal the victory. 

Diouf bagged the Finals MVP and paced UP with 17 points and nine rebounds, Cansino chipped in 14 points, while Cagulangan had 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and Ricci Rivero scored nine points.

Ateneo was running out of time and had less than 5 ticks left to tie the game but failed to do so as SJ Belangel led the Blue Eagles with 27 points, while Ange Kouame had 12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

Meanwhile, Tyler Tio scored two points and Gian Mamuyac had 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists. 

The Scores:

UP 72 – Diouf 17, Cansino 14, Cagulangan 13, Rivero 9, Alarcon 8, Tamayo 6, Spencer 5, Lucero 0, Abadiano, Fortea 0.

Ateneo 69 – Belangel 27, Kouame 12, Mamuyac 10 Koon 6, Verano 5, Lazaro 5, Ildefonso 2, Tio 2, Andrade 0, Daves 0, Chiu 0.

Quarters: 17-11, 31-27, 46-47, 59-59 (reg.) 72-69 (OT).