The UAAP Season 82 basketball tournaments were the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball tournaments for the 2019–20 school year.
Jensen Ilagan, the technical director of the regional ASEAN Basketball League was appointed commissioner for the season's basketball tournaments on August 6, 2019.
The senior men's and women's tournaments began on September 4, 2019, while the juniors' division which was sub-hosted by National University held their opening games on November 13 for the boys' tournament and on January 11, 2020, for the newly formed girls' competition.
The men's defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles won all 14 elimination round games to become the only second men's basketball team to advance to the UAAP Finals outright (after UE in 2007). The remaining Final Four teams figured in the stepladder format to determine Ateneo's finals opponent. UST defeated FEU in the first round to meet UP in the second round, who are holding their first twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four era. The Growling Tigers defeated the Fighting Maroons twice to deny UP's finals rematch against Ateneo and tie with 2014 champions NU Bulldogs as the lowest-seeded basketball team in UAAP history to have competed in the championship round - and the first overall ever to do so in a stepladder post-season format.
In the first #1 vs #4 UAAP Finals match-up in any of the league's events, the Blue Eagles swept the finals for a second consecutive year, being crowned undefeated champions (and the first men's basketball team in UAAP history to pose a 16–0 season win sweep record). Graduating player Thirdy Ravena became the first athlete in UAAP history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.
The women's defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs also won all elimination round games. In the stepladder, FEU outlasted Adamson in the first round, to meet #2 seeded UST in the next round. UST needed its twice-to-beat advantage to eliminate the Lady Tamaraws from contention. The Tigresses fell short against the NU Lady Bulldogs, who were without their best player Jack Animam, who was injured. The Lady Bulldogs won their sixth consecutive title, all undefeated seasons.
The juniors' division introduced a girls' tournament, a demonstration sport. The boys' defending champions, the NSNU Bullpups, finished the elimination round undefeated. Last year's finalist, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, were defeated by the Adamson Baby Falcons in the first round of the stepladder. FEU arranged a Finals match-up with the Bullpups after beating the Baby Falcons in the second round. The Bullpups finished the season undefeated though, winning both Finals games.
The inaugural girls' tournament featured four teams, with the top 2 teams qualifying for the Finals. The Adamson Lady Baby Falcons finished the elimination round undefeated, while the UST Junior Tigresses fended off the DLSZ Lady Junior Archers in their last elimination round game to qualify for the Finals. The two teams split the first two Finals games, with the second game held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAAP then canceled the tournament, declaring both teams co-champions.
Teams All eight member universities of the UAAP fielded teams in all two divisions. Only four high schools fielded in teams for the inaugural girls' basketball tournament.
University Men's team Women's team High school Boys' team Girls' teamAdamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons Lady Falcons Adamson University (AdU) Baby Falcons Lady Baby FalconsAteneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles Lady Eagles Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eaglets Lady EagletsDe La Salle University (DLSU)Green Archers Lady Archers De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) Junior Archers Lady Junior ArchersFar Eastern University (FEU)Tamaraws Lady Tamaraws Far Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws National University (NU)BulldogsLady BulldogsNazareth School (NSNU) Bullpups University of the East (UE) Red Warriors Lady Warriors University of the East (UE) Junior Warriors University of the Philippines Diliman (UP)Fighting Maroons Fighting Maroons University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Junior Maroons University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers Tigresses University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cubs Tigress Cubs
Coaches The UE Red Warriors' Lawrence Chongson and the De La Salle Green Archers' Jermaine Byrd were both recognized by the UAAP as active consultants of their respective teams. Gian Nazario who had been listed by La Salle as their coach clarified that the school is yet to make an announcement regarding Byrd's official appointment. Bong Tan, who had replaced Joe Silva as coach explained the unique setup in their team. With Chongson as consultant, he is able to trust him and take a backseat during games.
Tan died on November 11, 2019. It was reported that he had collapsed while playing in a basketball game in Mandaluyong.
University Men's coach Women's coach High school Boys' coach Girls' coachAdamson University (AdU) Franz Pumaren Ewon ArayiAdamson University Mike Fermin Ewon ArayiAteneo de Manila University (AdMU) Tab Baldwin Katrina Quimpo Ateneo de Manila University Reggie Varilla Ron CamaraDe La Salle University (DLSU) Gian Nazario Pocholo Villanueva De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) Boris Aldeguer Ginny VelardeFar Eastern University (FEU) Olsen Racela Bert FloresFar Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D) Michael Oliver National University (NU) Jamike Jarin Patrick Aquino Nazareth School of National University (NSNU) Goldwin Monteverde University of the East (UE) Bong Tan Aileen Lebornio University of the East Estong Ballesteros University of the Philippines Diliman (UP) Bo Perasol Paul Ramos University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Paolo Mendoza University of Santo Tomas (UST) Aldin Ayo Haydee Ong University of Santo Tomas Bonnie Garcia Aileen Grajales
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date Replaced by DateDe La Salle Green Archers Louie Gonzales Fired December 14, 2018 Gian Nazario May 5, 2019UE Junior Warriors Florence Conlu Resigned May 23, 2019 Anton Brodett May 23, 2019Ateneo Lady Eagles Anthony John Flores Fired January 23, 2019 Katrina Quimpo May 26, 2019UP Lady Maroons Kenneth Marius Raval Paul John Ramos UE Red Warriors Joe Silva Resigned September 3, 2019 Bong Tan September 3, 2019UE Junior Warriors Anton Brodett Resigned October 16, 2019 Estong Ballesteros October 21, 2019
Venues The Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City are the primary venues for the men's tournament, and the venues for the Finals series for the women's tournament. The Ynares Center in Antipolo is an alternative venue for the men's tournament. The Quadricentennial Pavilion in UST Manila and the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City are the alternate and main venue for the women's and boys' tournaments, respectively.
The girls tournament is held at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Men's tournament Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results
Scores Results on top and to the right of the dashes are for first-round games; those to the bottom and to the left of it are second-round games.
Bracket
Stepladder semifinals (3) FEU vs. (4) UST This is a single-elimination game. FEU sustains the current longest playoffs streak, appearing in all playoffs since 2013. For UST, this is their first playoffs appearance since their 2015 runner-up finish.
UST led by 26 at halftime. Ken Tuffin led an FEU scoring run in the third quarter that cut the lead to 10. Rhenz Abando and Renzo Subido scored back-to-back three-pointers to end the third quarter with UST up by 14. FEU then again had 9–0 run to cut the lead to five, but Subido and Soulemane Chabi Yo scored eight points together to put the Tigers up for good. Tuffin and Xyrus Torres cut the lead 78–71 but that was the closest the Tamaraws can get.
(2) UP vs. (4) UST The UP Fighting Maroons have a twice-to-beat advantage. This is UP's second consecutive playoffs appearance, and the first time they have the twice-to-beat advantage.
UST, which has never lost to UP this season, led 19–13 in the first quarter, with Renzo Subido and Rhenz Abando converting multiple three-pointers. Abando and CJ Cansino scored for the Tigers in the second quarter, to extend the lead to 18. Trailing at halftime 41–24, Juan Gomez de Liaño scored seven consecutive points to cut the lead to 12, but he injured his ankle, and the Tigers had another run to lead 52–33. Bright Akhuetie and the return of Gomez de Liaño cut the deficit to 11, but UST closed out the quarter scoring on each of its possessions to lead 60–47. UP cut the lead again to 11, but Sherwin Concepcion and Mark Nonoy made back-to-back three pointers to put UST up for good, extending the series to a deciding Game 2.
UST started the deciding Game 2 the same way Game 1 started, making a double-digit lead, and limiting UP to just 6 points after the first quarter. The Fighting Maroons outscored the Tigers in the second quarter though to cut the lead to one point at halftime. In the fourth quarter, UP led for the first time in the series, off a Gomez de Liaño jump-shot, and extended the lead further off a Jun Manzo lay-up. Akhuetie then suffered from cramps, that led to Manzo fouling a UST player to stop the clock; it was his fifth and he was disqualified from the game. UP led by four just after the two-minute warning off a Kobe Paras slam dunk, but Abando scored on a fast-break to cut the lead to a single possession. Ricci Rivero missed on a lay-up for UP, Renzo Subido made a three-pointer to give UST the lead for good, and the Tigers advance to the Finals.
Finals This is a best-of-three playoff. This is Ateneo's fourth consecutive Finals appearance, and their first after winning all elimination round games. This is UST's first Finals appearance since their 2015 runner-up finish vs. FEU.
Finals Most Valuable Player: Ateneo started Game 1 on an 18–2 run and never looked back to take a wire-to-wire victory. A UST scoring run led by Mark Nonoy cut the lead to two in the second quarter, but that's the closest the Tigers could get as Ateneo had its own 13–1 to end the first half. Ateneo increased its lead to 23 in the third quarter, and Nonoy's back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth period were canceled out by Angelo Kouame and Matt Nieto's baskets. Thirdy Ravena scored a season-high 32 points, Kouame had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and SJ Belangel scored 12 for Ateneo, who shot 52.05% from the field as a team.
Awards
Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Mythical Team:
PSBankable Player of the Season: AXA Know You Can Player of the Season:
Players of the Week +Week endingPlayerTeamRef.September 8 Rhenz AbandoSeptember 15 Rey SuerteSeptember 22 Kobe ParasSeptember 29 Ange Kouame October 6 Justine Baltazar October 20 CJ CansinoOctober 27 Jun Manzo November 3 SJ Belangel
Statistics Players' statistical points # Player Team Total1 Soulémane Chabi Yo 76.002 Ange Kouame 72.933 Adama Diakhite 70.544 Bright Akhuetie 67.215 Justine Baltazar 64.00
Season player highs Statistic Player Team AveragePoints Alex Diakhite 17.62Rebounds Soulémane Chabi Yo 14.71Assists Jun Manzo 4.29Steals Bright Akhuetie 1.57Blocks Ange Kouame 3.86
Game player highs Statistic Player Team Total OpponentPoints Jamie Malonzo 34 Rebounds Justine Baltazar 25 Assists Jerom Lastimosa 9 Steals Kobe Paras 6 Blocks Ange Kouame 7
Game team highs Statistic Team Total OpponentPoints 101 Rebounds 66 Assists 26 Steals 13 Blocks 11
Season team highs Statistic Team AveragePoints 79.21Rebounds 51.29Assists 16.93Steals 7.07Blocks 7.14
Broadcasting