La Salle–UST rivalry

Contents

The rivalry between the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers is contested at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Although the men's basketball rivalry had died down after the 1990s, it returned in 2013 as both schools again met in the UAAP basketball championship series.[1][2] The rivalry had also been apparent in women's volleyball where the two teams are frequent finalists in the UAAP volleyball championships and the Shakey's V-League.[3][4]

History

Prior to La Salle joining the UAAP the two schools met in the championship of the 1948–49 season of the National Seniors Open, a yearly tournament of top collegiate and commercial teams in the country. The De La Salle Green Archers defeated the UST Glowing Goldies in overtime to win the title.[5]

The rivalry returned on consecutive UAAP Finals series in men's basketball. La Salle was defeated three consecutive years in the Finals from 1994 through 1996 capping UST's four-year title run.[6] UST was finally dethroned by La Salle during the 1997 semifinals. In 1998 La Salle again eliminated UST in the semifinals to begin their own four-year championship streak.[7] La Salle bounced back defeating UST in overtime for the 1999 UAAP basketball title.[8][9] The Game 1 finals victory was their last against La Salle until 2007 when UST won in overtime during regular season;[10] La Salle went on to win the 2007 UAAP title.[11][12][13] At this point UST's basketball program regressed, but they won a championship against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in three games in 2006.[14][15] La Salle was suspended in 2006 after admitting they had unknowingly fielded two ineligible players in the previous seasons.[16][17] La Salle would then win all games until 2011. La Salle again defeated UST in overtime during the UAAP Season 76 basketball championship in 2013.[18][19][20]

The rivalry carried over to women's volleyball in the UAAP and Shakey's V-League. The De La Salle Lady Spikers and the UST Golden Tigresses met three times in the championship of the Shakey's V-League tournament with UST winning the first and La Salle winning the latter two. The Tigresses have won six championships while the Lady Spikers have three under their belt.[21]

In the UAAP, the De La Salle Lady Spikers and the UST Golden Tigresses met in the Finals for two consecutive seasons – Season 72 (won by UST) and Season 73 (won by La Salle), although UST has seen fluctuation in season-long performances in women's volleyball amidst the rise of contemporary contenders such as Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, and National University. Both schools, however, met in the semifinals in Season 79 (won by La Salle) and Season 81 (won by UST), the latter of which ended La Salle's decade-long streak of finals appearances by 2019 (running from 2009 to 2018), the most in the Final Four era of the UAAP.[22][23]

Men's basketball

Both teams are guaranteed to face each other at the elimination round (regular season) twice, while they can meet for a maximum of three times in the playoffs. The games were played consistently from 1986 until 2006 when La Salle was suspended for fielding two ineligible players. La Salle and UST previously met each other when they were members of the NCAA from 1924 to 1936.

La Salle victoriesUST victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1August 1, 1987Rizal Memorial ColiseumLa Salle89–76
2September 9, 1987Rizal Memorial ColiseumUST100–85
3August 4, 1988Rizal Memorial ColiseumLa Salle71–66
4August 27, 1988Rizal Memorial ColiseumUST75–70
5July 23, 1989Araneta ColiseumLa Salle88–69
6September 10, 1989Araneta ColiseumLa Salle128–85
7August 8, 1990Araneta ColiseumUST20–0[24]
8September 30, 1990Araneta ColiseumLa Salle80–78
9August 14, 1991Loyola CenterLa Salle100–83
10August 31, 1991Loyola CenterLa Salle85–80
11August 1, 1992Loyola CenterUST88–65
12September 26, 1992Loyola CenterLa Salle82–80
13July 24, 1993Araneta ColiseumUST80–70
14September 11, 1993Loyola CenterUST95–84
15August 13, 1994Cuneta AstrodomeLa Salle83–73
16August 27, 1994Cuneta AstrodomeUST68–66
17September 24, 1994*Cuneta AstrodomeLa Salle77–74
18October 1, 1994*Cuneta AstrodomeUST89–75
19October 8, 1994*Cuneta AstrodomeUST77–76
20August 12, 1995Araneta ColiseumUST75–59
21September 16, 1995Araneta ColiseumUST87–84
22September 30, 1995*Araneta ColiseumLa Salle88–78
23October 4, 1995*Araneta ColiseumUST66–62
24October 7, 1995*Araneta ColiseumUST67–64
25August 17, 1996Ninoy Aquino StadiumLa Salle63–60OT
26September 17, 1996Rizal Memorial ColiseumLa Salle72–61
27October 5, 1996*Araneta ColiseumUST65–60
28October 8, 1996*Araneta ColiseumUST57–54
29August 16, 1997Ninoy Aquino StadiumLa Salle64–57
30September 27, 1997Loyola CenterUST70–58
31October 2, 1997^Araneta ColiseumLa Salle82–73
32October 4, 1997^Araneta ColiseumLa Salle74–72OT
33July 26, 1998Ninoy Aquino StadiumLa Salle76–62OT
34August 22, 1998Ninoy Aquino StadiumUST66–63
35October 1, 1998^Araneta ColiseumUST55–51
36October 3, 1998^Araneta ColiseumLa Salle56–51
37July 17, 1999Loyola CenterUST61–59
38August 28, 1999Loyola CenterLa Salle78–69
39Sep 1999≠Loyola Center#1 La Salle84–79
40September 30, 1999*PhilSports ArenaUST62–60
41October 2, 1999*PhilSports ArenaLa Salle81–74
42October 9, 1999*PhilSports ArenaLa Salle78–75OT
43August 10, 2000Ninoy Aquino StadiumLa Salle59–55
44August 24, 2000Blue Eagle GymLa Salle67–59
45September 24, 2000^Araneta ColiseumLa Salle65–62
46July 26, 2001PhilSports ArenaLa Salle87–73
47September 6, 2001Blue Eagle GymLa Salle64–62
48July 27, 2002Rizal Memorial ColiseumLa Salle81–76
49August 22, 2002Rizal Memorial ColiseumLa Salle91–89OT
50September 19, 2002^Araneta ColiseumLa Salle97–84
51July 12, 2003Araneta ColiseumLa Salle90–86[25]
52August 23, 2003Blue Eagle GymLa Salle71–66[25]
53July 29, 2004Araneta ColiseumLa Salle79–75[25]
54August 29, 2004PhilSports ArenaLa Salle86–77[25]
55July 28, 2005Araneta ColiseumLa Salle98–78[25]
56August 18, 2005Blue Eagle GymLa Salle98–72[25]
57July 26, 2007Araneta ColiseumLa Salle90–86OT
58August 11, 2007Araneta ColiseumUST81–73OT
59July 17, 2008PhilSports ArenaLa Salle85–84
60August 28, 2008Araneta ColiseumLa Salle81–79
61August 2, 2009Araneta ColiseumLa Salle101–922OT
62September 3, 2009Araneta ColiseumLa Salle68–64
63August 1, 2010PhilSports ArenaLa Salle61–53
64September 2, 2010Araneta ColiseumLa Salle78–69
65August 11, 2011Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle74–71
66August 25, 2011Smart Araneta ColiseumUST60–52
67August 4, 2012SM Mall of Asia ArenaUST84–822OT
68August 29, 2012SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle53–51
69June 29, 2013SM Mall of Asia ArenaUST63–58OT
70September 14, 2013SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle69–64
71October 2, 2013*Smart Araneta ColiseumUST73–72
72October 5, 2013*Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle77–70
73October 12, 2013*SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle71–69OT
74August 10, 2014SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle83–70
75September 6, 2014SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle67–60
76September 30, 2015SM Mall of Asia ArenaUST77–61
77October 11, 2015Smart Araneta ColiseumUST81–79
78September 14, 2016SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle100–62
79October 23, 2016Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle99–56
80September 30, 2017Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle115–86
81October 29, 2017SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle94–59
82October 3, 2018SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle99–72
83November 3, 2018Ynares CenterLa Salle110–69
84September 28, 2019SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle92–77
85October 23, 2019Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle80–79
86April 2, 2022SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle75–66
87April 19, 2022SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle112–83
88October 5, 2022PhilSports ArenaLa Salle83–63
89November 30, 2022Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle77–72
90October 7, 2023Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle91–71
91October 25, 2023SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle100–69
92September 29, 2024Smart Araneta ColiseumLa Salle88–67
93October 16, 2024SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle94–87OT
94September 27, 2025Smart Araneta ColiseumUST93–84
95October 25, 2025SM Mall of Asia ArenaLa Salle86–77
Series: La Salle leads 67–28
(*) = finals games; (^) = semifinals; (≠) = seeding playoffs; (—) = forfeits

UAAP Final Four rankings

For comparison, these are the elimination round rankings of these two teams since the Final Four format was introduced in UAAP Season 56 (1993–94).

Seniors' division

A.Y.La SalleUST
1993–19943rd1st
1994–19951st3rd
1995–19962nd1st
1996–19971st2nd
1997–19983rd2nd
1998–19991st4th
1999–20001st2nd
2000–20011st4th
2001–20021st6th
2002–20031st4th
2003–20044th a6th
2004–20052nd a7th
2005–20062nd a6th
2006–20073rd
2007–20082nd4th
2008–20092nd5th
2009–20106th4th
2010–20114th7th
2011–20126th4th
2012–20134th2nd
2013–20142nd4th
2014–20153rd6th
2015–20165th1st
2016–20171st8th
2017–20182nd8th
2018–20195th6th
2019–20205th4th
2021–20223rd7th
2022–20235th8th
2023–20242nd8th
2024–20251st3rd
2025–20264th3rd

Finished as the champion Finished as the 1st runner-up Finished as the 2nd runner-up Finished as the 3rd runner-up Suspended

Women's volleyball

Both teams are expected to meet at least two times per year in UAAP volleyball tournaments.

La Salle victoriesUST victories

References

  1. 1."UST stuns NU to reach UAAP 76 finals". Inquirer. September 28, 2013.
  2. 2."De La Salle Green Archers back as UAAP champs after beating Tigers in OT thriller". SPIN.ph. October 12, 2013.
  3. 3."Heartbreakers, Gatekeepers, Streak Busters: La Salle and UST's History in the UAAP Volleyball Final Four". The Game. May 2, 2024.
  4. 4."Rivalry renewed: UST, La Salle clash in Final Four showdown for third year in a row". One Sports. April 29, 2025.
  5. 5.Henson, Joaquin M. (December 26, 2003). "Sporting chance: readers take over". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  6. 6."Dissecting Rivalries: La Salle versus Ateneo, UST, and FEU". The LaSallian. October 26, 2015.
  7. 7."Five UAAP teams that have truly built dynasties". SPIN.ph. April 4, 2020.
  8. 8."An unspoken collegiate rivalry: DLSU vs. UST". The LaSallian. November 21, 2012.
  9. 9."Back to the 90s: La Salle, UST face off in finals". The LaSallian. September 29, 2013.
  10. 10.Payo, Jasmine W. (August 12, 2007). "Tigers beat Archers at last". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  11. 11."Green Archers 2007 UAAP Season Recap". Take Aim. July 8, 2009.
  12. 12."2007 DLSU Green Archers: Against the odds". The LaSallian. June 11, 2013.
  13. 13."La Salle's 2007 'redeem team' the most special for Franz Pumaren". SPIN.ph. August 2, 2020.
  14. 14."The five best Game 3s in the UAAP Final Four era". Yahoo! News. October 14, 2014.
  15. 15."Most memorable triumphs of underdogs in UAAP playoff history". SPIN.ph. April 9, 2021.
  16. 16."La Salle suspended for 1 year, banned from all UAAP events". GMA News. April 21, 2006. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  17. 17."La Salle banned for one season". The Philippine Star. April 22, 2006. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  18. 18."La Salle rallies past UST in OT to win UAAP title". Inquirer. October 12, 2013.
  19. 19."La Salle beats UST, wins UAAP title". Rappler. October 12, 2013.
  20. 20."UAAP: DLSU Green Archers win in OT, shoot down UST Growling Tigers for S76 title". GMA News. October 12, 2013.
  21. 21."La Salle, UST duel for volleyball title". Manila Bulletin. February 21, 2010.
  22. 22."UST ousts DLSU, barges into UAAP women's volleyball finals". The Philippine Star. May 5, 2019.
  23. 23."La Salle's long UAAP finals streak ends: 'You can't be at the top all the time'". Inquirer. May 5, 2019.
  24. 24.La Salle's 90–80 win over UST on August 8, 1990, was reversed to a loss after the board ruled Noli Locsin to be ineligible.
  25. 25.[25.2][25.3][25.4][25.5][25.6]La Salle's wins from 2003 to 2005 were later forfeited after La Salle admitted it unknowingly fielded two ineligible players during that time period. Six La Salle wins from the 2003 to 2005 seasons were forfeited, but this only affected the championships, moreover nullity of title does not imply a win column to the opposition.