ALLAN THE MAN

ABS-CBN Sports on Monday unveiled the schedule of the first round of the UAAP Season 78 men's basketball tournament, along with the UAAP Cheer Dance Competition.

The UAAP Cheer Dance Competition will be held on October 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena, ahead of the first round showdown between traditional rivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, which is scheduled for October 4, also at the MOA Arena.

All hail the kings: Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles crowned themselves as 77th UAAP men's volleyball champion after sweeping the dethroned National University in the best-of-three finals.

Ateneo de Manila University made history by winning its first ever title, dethroning the two-time defending champion National University, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15, Saturday in Game 2 of the best-of-three 77th UAAP men’s volleyball finals series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

AFTER weeks of speculation, National University star Bobby Ray Parks has made it known he is not joining next month’s PBA rookie draft.

Charlie Dy, Parks’ representative, said on Monday the decision was made easier for the Bulldogs star since he failed to satisfy the PBA draft requirements for rookie applicants, prompting the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player to consider other options.

“Ray-ray is turning 21 only on February 19, then ga-graduate siya March next year pa so hindi pa siya eligible for the PBA draft,” told Dy

National University (NU) superstar Bobby Ray Parks needs time to think about his next move after he and the Bulldogs were ousted by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 76 tournament.

The Bulldogs were the top-seeded team and had twice-to-beat advantage, but they ran into an inspired UST team who made history by becoming the first fourth-seed in the Final Four era to topple the No. 1 team.

“It sucks to lose,” a subdued Parks told reporters after they lost 69-76 to UST last Saturday. “But hey, they showed up, they played tough, and they played their type of basketball. So congratulations to them.”

Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., no doubt, is one of young players who have the potential to play in the NBA someday.

But how he reacted and was affected by physicality of his defender will be something he needs to check.

Kevin Ferrer said there was nothing personal with the way he defended Bobby Ray Parks on Sunday, saying he was just trying to do the best he can to stop one of the best players in the UAAP basketball today.

The big man from University of Santo Tomas was credited for his all-around play in the Tigers’ 71-62 Final Four win over National University, scoring 14 points and hitting four three-pointers to help the Tigers forge a rubber match for a berth in this year’s Finals.

National University forward Ray Parks chose a legendary NBA team when discussing his match-up against Kevin Ferrer, the lanky swingman of the University of Santo Tomas.

"Michael Jordan had Detroit," Parks said, referring to the Pistons teams of the 1980s that were known as the "Bad Boys." "This is my Detroit. That's just the easiest way to say it. This is my Detroit right here."

The National University Bulldogs are aiming to make the finals of the UAAP 76 for the first time since 1970 when they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the Final Four Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs, the UAAP's cellar-dwellers for years, clinched the top spot and the twice-to-beat advantage after finishing with a 10-4 record in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball tournament.

The National University Bulldogs Pep Squad won the UAAP Cheerdance Competition title on Sunday, wowing the judges with a flawless routine inspired by Aladdin for 696.5 points.

Boasting of an aggressive recruitment program, NU completed its climb to the top after making its first podium appearance last year, when its finished third. Two seasons ago, the Bulldogs Pep Squad finished sixth in the competition.

De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers created a three-way logjam at the top of the UAAP standings via a 69-64 win over University of Ssto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers at the tournament’s penultimate match on Saturday.

La Salle is now tied with National University (NU) Bulldogs and Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws with 10-4 win-loss slates. 

The men's basketball action for UAAP Season 76 is down to its final two playdates but the Final Four picture is not yet set as two teams are still fighting for the last twice-to-beat advantage, while two other teams are still knocking on the semis doors.

Far Eastern University (10-4) and De La Salle University (9-4) are jockeying for the second win-once edge as National University (10-4) is the only team guaranteed with the win-once bonus in the Final Four. 

The National University (NU) Bulldogs held off a late-game charge by the Ateneo Blue Eagles to claim a 70-65 victory and clinch a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and assisted on a dagger three-pointer by Denice Villamor that allowed NU to gain separation from Ateneo with just 22 seconds to go in the contest.

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers nipped the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 57-55, to create a three-way tie for first place in the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament.

[ WATCH UAAP SEASON 76 LIVE STREAMING HERE ]

La Salle, NU and Far Eastern University now have identical 9-4 records, although the Bulldogs still hold the top spot by virtue of a better quotient.