UP seeks eighth straight Final Four appearance in Ateneo clash
The Fighting Maroons carry a six-game winning streak into the contest, with a one-game lead over National U.
An outright semi-final place is the target for University of the Philippines when it faces Ateneo at Smart Araneta Coliseum on November 7, 2026. The UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball meeting between the Katipunan rivals is scheduled for 6 p.m.
UP has won its last six games and leads the standings with an 8-2 record. The Fighting Maroons are seeking to extend their run of Final Four appearances to eight seasons; their current seven-season streak is the league’s longest active one.
National U is closest to UP at 7-3, one game behind. Defending champion La Salle and season host Far Eastern U each have a 6-4 record, putting them two games off the lead.
The earlier fixture, at 2:30 p.m., pits Adamson against UE. Adamson is tied with Santo Tomas for sixth place at 4-6 and is trying to sustain its semi-final hopes. UE stands at 0-10, with a losing streak spanning 30 games since 2024.
