The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers brought home the UAAP Men's Basketball Championship trophy after stunning the heavy favorite UP Fighting Maroons in games 2 and 3 of their finals series. After missing the final four in Season 85, the Green Archers peaked at the right time to bring back the crown to Taft.
With the end of another exciting season, several players from the DLSU Green Archers as well as from other teams will graduate. Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, Ef Escandor and Ben Phillips will graduate as champions after helping the Green Archers return to the top.
For Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy, this season's championship is their first and last after transferring from San Beda University and University of Santo Tomas (UST) respectively. A promising professional career is definitely waiting for them in the professional ranks.
Meanwhile, the UP Fighting Maroons suffered their back-to-back heartbreaks in the finals. Last season, they succumbed to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 1-2, after winning game 1 of the finals. In similar fashion, the Fighting Maroons collapsed again in games 2 and 3 against the Green Archers this season.
Captain CJ Cansino and Malick Diouf failed to end their UAAP careers with another trophy. Nonetheless, they will still graduate as champions after they helped end the 36-year championship drought of UP in season 84.
Check out below the list of the graduating UAAP men's basketball players after the end of UAAP Season 86.
| School | Graduating Players |
|---|---|
| AdU Falcons | Jed Colonia Jerom Lastimosa Vince Magbuhos Wilfrey Magbuhos |
| UE Red Warriors | Abdul Sawat |
| FEU Tamaraws | L-jay Gonzales Mouhamed Faty James Tempra |
| ADMU Blue Eagles | Jason Credo Kai Ballungay Jared Brown |
| DLSU Green Archers | Evan Nelle Mark Nonoy Joaquin Manuel Ben Phillips Francis Escandor |
| NU Bulldogs | John Martin Galinato Mike Malonzo |
| UP Fighting Maroons | CJ Cansino Malick Diouf |
| UST Growling Tigers | Vince Ventulan |