Season 5 of the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup Tips Off with Two Thrillers

Season 5 of the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup has officially arrived, and it wasted no time delivering the kind of edge-of-your-seat basketball that fans have come to expect from this competition. 

Two intense and hard-fought matches kicked off the season yesterday at Enderun Colleges, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable conference.

Game 1| UPHSD Atlas defeats Enderun College Titans, 69-65

The first game of the day was a South Conference clash between the Enderun College Titans and the UPHSD Altas, and neither side came to lose. 

The Titans seized the early advantage on their home court, but the Atlas refused to be rattled. Relentless and unshaken, they chipped away at the deficit and clawed their way to a three-point lead by halftime. The combative energy only escalated from there, with both teams locked in and playing with an edge deep into the second half. 

In the final three minutes, it was UPHSD who found another gear. They built momentum when it mattered most, pulling away just enough to seal the win, 69–65. 

Leading that charge was Aries Borja. The Atlas’ slotman was efficient and composed under pressure, finishing as the game’s best player with 11 points on 67% shooting, 4 assists, and a steal. His performance was no accident - Borja had put in the work long before tip-off.

“Nagpa-practice kami. Lagi kaming go hard sa practice. Tapos hindi namin iniisip ang sarili namin, eh para sa team po. Kasi sabi ni coach, mananalo as a team, hindi individual," he shared after the game. 

A team-first mindset, and a performance to match.

Game 2| EAC Generals defeats Adamson Soaring Falcons, 79-71 (OT)

If the first game set the bar high, the second game shattered it entirely. 

The Western Conference matchup brought together two of collegiate basketball's most decorated programs: the Adamson Soaring Falcons, the reigning Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup champions, and the EAC Generals, two-time Pinoyliga NextManCup champions. 

Adamson came out strong, but EAC matched them at every turn - answering their quick ball movement with tight defense and refusing to give up the lead. The two teams stayed tied deep into the fourth quarter.

Then, with 13 seconds left, Bagay drove to the basket for a layup, putting EAC ahead. But Adamson's AJ Fransman answered right back — driving to the basket with 5 seconds remaining, drawing the foul, and converting both free throws to force overtime. 

In the extra period, EAC pulled away and closed it out, 79-71.

Wilmar Oftana led the way for the Generals, finishing with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. In overtime, Oftana stayed locked in, trusting his shots and his teammates.

"Iniisip ko lang na laging papasok yung tira ko. Lalo na yung pagpasa ni Ochavo, talaga eh. Hindi ko siya pinapahiya," Oftana reflected post-game.

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Season 5 has only just begun, and it's already clear this is going to be a special one. Two games in, and we’ve already seen resilient comebacks, an intense overtime, and performances that’ll be talked about for the rest of the tournament. There’s a whole lot more Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup basketball still to come.

Rewatch all the action now via www.youtube.com/@PinoyligaCup