As I settled into my usual spot at the arena last Thursday, I could feel the electricity in the air—that particular tension that only comes when two historic rivals are about to clash. The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers were facing the De La Salle Green Archers, and frankly, I wasn't expecting miracles. UST had been struggling, there's no denying that. But what unfolded over the next forty minutes reminded me why I've loved covering the NBL for over a decade—because basketball always finds a way to surprise you.
Let me take you back to that moment in the third quarter when Nic Cabanero caught fire. I've watched this kid develop over three seasons, and there's always been that spark there, but tonight? Tonight was different. The Green Archers had built what felt like a comfortable lead, and you could see the familiar pattern starting to form—UST would fight hard but ultimately fall short like they had sixteen times before against this particular opponent. Then Cabanero decided to rewrite the script. He hit three consecutive three-pointers, and with each swish, you could feel the entire momentum of the game shift. The arena went from that polite applause you hear when fans are expecting defeat to genuine bedlam.
Now, for those who haven't been following the NBL as closely, you need to understand what we witnessed. That sixteen-game losing streak against La Salle wasn't just a number—it had become psychological baggage that weighed heavily on every UST player who stepped onto that court. I've spoken with coaches who admitted they'd tried everything from changing pre-game routines to bringing in sports psychologists. Nothing worked. Until Thursday night. What made Cabanero's performance so remarkable wasn't just the sheer volume of points—though his tournament-best 27 points certainly jump off the stat sheet—but the timing of every single basket. When La Salle made runs, he answered. When UST needed to stop the bleeding, he provided the bandage. It was the kind of leadership you can't teach, the sort of performance that transforms players from good to memorable.
I caught up with Coach Bong Dela Cruz after the game, and the relief on his face was palpable. "We've been telling Nic he's capable of these kinds of nights," he told me, still catching his breath from the celebrations. "But tonight, he didn't just believe us—he believed in himself. That's the difference." Analyst Richard Dy, who's been covering college basketball for twenty years, put it even more bluntly when I spoke with him yesterday: "Cabanero didn't just break a streak—he broke a mentality. That's more significant than any statistic."
Looking at the broader NBL landscape this week, this upset sends ripples through the entire tournament. The Growling Tigers have been sitting near the bottom of the standings, but a win like this—against a traditional powerhouse like La Salle—can change the trajectory of their entire season. I've seen it happen before. One signature victory becomes two, then three, and suddenly a team that looked like easy pickings becomes dangerous for everyone. For La Salle, this has to be concerning. Their defense, which had been relatively solid through the first four games, looked completely unprepared for Cabanero's offensive explosion. Coach Topex Robinson will need to make significant adjustments before their next matchup.
What fascinates me about these latest NBL results and analysis is how they demonstrate the unpredictability of college basketball. You can study the stats, watch the tape, and think you know exactly how a game will play out—then a player like Cabanero reminds you that heart and momentum can override all of that. Breaking down this week's key matchups, particularly this stunning UST victory, shows us that in the NBL, no outcome is guaranteed until the final buzzer sounds. The Tigers aren't just playing for wins anymore—they're playing with renewed belief, and that makes them dangerous for any team they face moving forward.
As I left the arena that night, I couldn't help but think about how sports continually redefine our expectations. That sixteen-game streak felt like an immovable object until it met Cabanero's irresistible force. The NBL season is still young, but if this game taught us anything, it's that we should probably expect the unexpected. I know I'll be watching UST's next game with completely different eyes—and I suspect their opponents will be too.
