UST hosts UAAP Season 88 with record 36,629 attendees

University of Santo Tomas (UST) is hosting UAAP Season 88 with the theme "Strength in Motion, Hope in Action."

The opening ceremony on UST's España campus attracted a record-breaking 36,629 attendees and featured an Olympic-style parade of member school delegations.

Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena lit the "Flame of Hope" and was joined in the torch relay by UST basketball champion Jervy Cruz, volleyball star Sisi Rondina, and martial artist Sydney Sy.

In the men's basketball tournament, host UST played the reigning champion UP on Sunday, and Far Eastern University lost to Ateneo in overtime, 86-83.

National University (NU) opened their campaign with a dominant 72-57 victory over the University of the East (UE), pulling away in the third quarter.

Jake Figueroa led NU with 16 points, while Precious Momowei scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for UE.

In women's football, UST secured a 1-0 victory against UP thanks to a goal from Rica Gerona.

La Salle begins their campaign in the post-Kevin Quiambao era, with Quiambao now playing in the Korean Basketball League.