HAU Golden Guardians, defending champions of the Universities and Colleges Premier League (UCPL) Season 1, were edged out by just four points by the Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas (CLB) Mustangs, 97 – 101, on December 10.
The Golden Guardians were left trailing in the first quarter with a 15 – 24 scoreline in the Marikina Sports Complex. In an attempt to chip away at the deficit, they tightened their defense and pushed the tempo, narrowing the gap to 44 – 46 by halftime.
Effectively outscoring the Mustangs in the third quarter, the Guardians flipped the scoreboard to 72 – 63, with Andrei Lagman leading the team with 19 points heading into the final frame and giving them a nine-point advantage.
However, the momentum shifted in the fourth quarter as the CLB Mustangs mounted a fierce comeback.
The Golden Guardians’ defensive lapses and crucial turnovers enabled the CLB Mustangs to take control of the match.
Despite several late-game rallies and a determined push to protect their standing, the Golden Guardians were ultimately outpaced in the final minutes, falling 97 – 101.
With the loss, the Golden Guardians now hold a 1–1 record in this season’s UCPL.
