UAAP Season 69 men's basketball tournament

At the end of the elimination round, the FEU Tamaraws, with team captain and eventual PBA superstar Jonas Villanueva, became the first defending champions in league history not to make it into the Final Four, under the same coach, Bert Flores, who was then replaced by Glenn Capacio for the following season. They lost a chance for the #4 spot to Ateneo, through JC Intal's drive that gave the Blue Eagles the win. Flores became an assistant coach in Season 70.

These are the results of the different rivalry games:

Studio 23

July 16

UP Fighting Maroons

89–98

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Ninoy Aquino Stadium

Studio 23

August 20

Ateneo Blue Eagles

98–88

UP Fighting Maroons

Araneta Coliseum

Studio 23

July 15

FEU Tamaraws

84–92(OT)

UE Red Warriors

Ninoy Aquino Stadium

Studio 23

August 20

UE Red Warriors

76–63

FEU Tamaraws

Araneta Coliseum

• Points: Kenneth Bono (Adamson, 21.8)
• Rebounds: Jervy Cruz (UST, 12.8)
• Assists: Japs Cuan (UST, 6.3)
• Blocks: Elmer Espiritu (UE, 2.1)
• Steals: Marvin Cruz (UP, 2.0)
• Turnovers: Bonbon Custodio (UE, 4.3)

The Eagles entered the season as one of the preseason favorites. After winning a nailbiter against lowly NU Bulldogs on Opening Day, the Eagles went on an 8-game winning streak, sweeping the first round, and surviving squeakers against Adamson and FEU, and blowing out UST by 36 points, 114–78 on the first round finale through a high scoring second quarter.

The second round was more of the same, when Ateneo again survived another 1-point game against the Falcons. However, they were dealt with their first setback in an overtime loss against the Growling Tigers, who were without three players due to injuries and ailments. Despite the loss, the Eagles were already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage at the semi-finals. They also dropped their last assignment, a no-bearing game against the Warriors at the last day of eliminations.

Returning with an intact lineup, the hosts also emerged as one of the preseason tournaments. However, the first round was mixed, as they were beaten by UST and Ateneo, but they finished second.

On the second round, UE was unbeaten, winning four straight (including the last game of the first round). However, UE was beaten by Adamson in an overtime thriller. After UST's victory of Adamson in the first game, UE is now assured of a twice-to-beat advantage at the semifinals.

The Growling Tigers opened the season with a stunning loss against the UP Fighting Maroons on a buzzer-beater shot by Marvin Cruz. However, they beat the defending champions Far Eastern and top seeds East in two closely fought games. With setbacks against National, Adamson and a blowout loss against Ateneo, their Final Four aspirations were cast in doubt.

Santo Tomas opened their second round with another loss against UE. But they broke the .500 barrier with successive wins against National, Far Eastern, and an overtime win against Ateneo. Flirting a possible twice-to-beat advantage at the semifinals, the Maroons dealt the Tigers another defeat. With their fates not in their hands, they've beaten the Soaring Falcons in a tightly contested game. With Ateneo's drubbing of Far Eastern, the Tigers entered the Final Four for the first time since 2002.

The Falcons is the only team not to enter the men's Final Four since the league instituted it in 1994. Seeking to end the streak, the Falcons had their first win against the Bulldogs, after being demolished by the hosts in their opening game. But Adamson still faced a rocky ride, losing to top contenders, Ateneo and FEU but beating UP and UST to end the first round with an even 3–3 record.

Opening the second round, Adamson was beaten again by FEU and Ateneo. But with center Ken Bono posting MVP numbers, Adamson brought itself in the hunt for that elusive Final Four berth. They were able to demolish UP and upset UE in overtime. They lost to UST before closing out the second round with a win over NU. With Ateneo's defeat of Far Eastern, Adamson barged outright into their first Final Four appearance.

This was the Soaring Falcons' first Final Four appearance. Adamson gave Ateneo two one-point victories in the elimination round, with the Eagles escaping due to their endgame heroics.

Studio 23

September 17 2:00 p.m.

Adamson Falcons	73–76	Ateneo Blue Eagles
Scoring by quarter: 14–11, 20–21, 20–21, 19–23
Pts: Ken Bono 33 Rebs: Ken Bono 9		Pts: JC Intal 17 Rebs: JC Intal 11
Ateneo wins series in one game

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

A see-saw game until the fourth quarter, when Ken Bono of the Falcons converting a three-point play with 18.3 seconds remaining, to cut the Ateneo lead to, 74–73. On the inbound pass, Blue Eagle Chris Tiu threw an errant pass to Macky Escalona who failed to retrieve it. On the next possession, Soaring Falcon Patrick Cabahug missed a fadeaway jumper, which led to an Atenean rebound. The Falcons left with no choice but to foul Chris Tiu, who calmly sank his two freethrows, thereby eliminating the Falcons from contention.[2]

Season host was favored in this matchup, with several veterans in the lineup. The Tigers have no players with playoff experience, save for Jemal Vizcarra who was out of the season by the second game due to an Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

UST won the first game 91–77, while UE won the second game, 74–63 in the elimination round. UE's loss was the third time in tournament history where they were booted out of the semifinals armed with the twice-to-beat advantage (1994, 2002 and 2006). UE's last Finals appearance was on 1990.

Studio 23

September 17 4:00 p.m.

UST Growling Tigers	79–75	UE Red Warriors
Scoring by quarter: 18–14, 20–18, 14–17, 27–26
Pts: Mark Canlas 16		Pts: Bonbon Custodio 17

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Studio 23

September 21 4:00 p.m.

UST Growling Tigers	82–81	UE Red Warriors
Scoring by quarter: 23–17, 20–21, 24–26, 15–17
Pts: Jervy Cruz 27		Pts: Arellano, Llagas 14 each
UST wins series in two games

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

UST led for much of the game, when the Warriors started making inroads by the third quarter. With 21.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and with UST up by two points, June Cortez of UST converted a three-point play that gave the Growling Tigers enough breathing space to force a deciding elimination game.[2]

With the Tigers off to a hot start, the Warriors kept within striking distance. In the fourth quarter, the Warriors forced a 70-all deadlock - the first in the game. UE then led by as much as five points, but the Tigers fought back, forcing turnovers and grabbing offensive rebounds, to tie the score at 79-all. After a UE turnover, Jojo Duncil missed the shot, but Jervy Cruz grabbed the offensive rebound, missing the put-back; Duncil then tipped in the ball for a two-point field goal, plus a foul. Duncil completed the three-point play. On the next possession, UE's Marcy Arellano drove unmolested to the basket, cutting the lead into one point. With a UST turnover and several seconds remaining, Red Warrior Jorel Cañizares missed a medium-range jump shot. Cañizares grabbed his own rebound but missed on a short stab; Warriors team captain Robert Labagala grabbed the rebound as time expired.[3]

Studio 23, TFC

September 24 4:00 p.m.

UST Growling Tigers	72–73	Ateneo Blue Eagles
Scoring by quarter: 15–19, 20–16, 22–22, 15–16
Pts: Jervy Cruz 20 Rebs: Jervy Cruz 13 Asts: Japs Cuan 3 TOs: Espiritu, Cuan 3 each		Pts: J.C. Intal 21 Rebs: Doug Kramer 13 Asts: Chris Tiu 4 Blocks: Zion Laterre 4
Ateneo leads series, 1–0

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The game was close all throughout, with neither team leading by double figures. It ended in the fourth quarter with two crucial plays. With 4.3 seconds to go, Tigers forward Allan Evangelista made a tough fadeaway shot over the outstreched arms of Doug Kramer, pushing UST ahead of Ateneo, 72–71, with 1 second to go.

Ateneo coach Norman Black immediately called a time-out over the tumultuous din of the rejoicing UST fans. In the inbound play, Macky Escalona found a wide open Doug Kramer on the paint, and the Ateneo forward calmly banked the ball in for the win, sending the Ateneo fans, in turn, into a wild frenzy.[4]

Studio 23, TFC

September 30 4:00 p.m.

Ateneo Blue Eagles	71–87	UST Growling Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 20–21, 18–27, 19–17, 14–22
Pts: J.C. Intal 23 Rebs: Doug Kramer 13 Asts: Intal, Escalona 4 each TOs: Chris Tiu 4		Pts: Dylan Ababou 22 Rebs: Jervy Cruz 13 Asts: Jervy Cruz 6 FG%: Dylan Ababou 82%
Series tied, 1–1

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The Eagles, although led early, were down by a point at the end of the first half. The Tigers broke the zone defense by hitting outside shots and by grabbing offensive rebounds off their misses. JC Intal kept the Eagles at striking distance but his supporting cast wasn't enough as the Tigers cruised into a Game 2 victory, and forced a winner-take-all Game 3.[5]

Studio 23, TFC

October 2 3:00 p.m.

UST Growling Tigers	76–74 (OT)	Ateneo Blue Eagles
Scoring by quarter: 15–17, 16–20, 20–13, 13–14, Overtime: 12–10
Pts: Jojo Duncil 18 Rebs: Jervy Cruz 13 Asts: June Cortez 4 Bench pts.: 24		Pts: Macky Escalona 28 Rebs: Zion Laterre 11 Asts: J.C. Intal 5 TOs: Ford Arao 5
UST wins series, 2–1

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

UST gallery at Game 3.

• Finals Most Valuable Player: Jojo Duncil (UST Growling Tigers)

With a tightly contested first quarter, the Intal-Escalona connection of the Eagles threatened to pull away at the second quarter, leading by as much as ten. In the third quarter, the Tigers stormed back, keeping in touch with the Blue Eagles. In the dying minutes of the fourth quarter, rookie sensation Jervy Cruz fouled out with 1:16 left; Evangelista, the almost-hero of Game 1, fouled out two minutes earlier. With a 64–59 Ateneo lead, Anthony Espiritu scored a three-pointer on the UST offense. Mark Canlas scored a put-back to tie the game. Intal missed a short jumper at the other end for force overtime.

With the score tied 74-all, June Cortez missed a jumper; Dylan Ababou was fouled as he grabbed the rebound. Ababou split his charities, which led to another JC Intal miss in the final seconds. The rebound was hotly contested, and the referee called for a jump ball; the possession arrow pointed to UST. Eric Salamat was forced to foul June Cortez, who converted his first and missed his second, which led to the Ateneo rebound with 3.6 ticks left. Jai Reyes heaved a desperation three-pointer that missed the ring completely, causing jubilation to the golden half of the Coliseum. An estimated 20,000 packed the Araneta Coliseum including United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney and Senator Richard Gordon .

Jojo Duncil was named Finals MVP award. Pido Jarencio won his first UAAP title for UST.[6]