As the game tipped off, Ateneo’s No. 3 Mac Tripulca wasted no time drilling a three-pointer to ignite the Knights’ offense, with No. 61 Angelo Domingo adding a smooth jump shot that gave Ateneo a 5-point edge over the Tigers during the early minutes of the opening frame.
Trailing to pitch as the clock ticked down, the NCF Tigers initially struggled to find their rhythm, with multiple missed shots sailing wide, allowing the Knights to close the first quarter with a 12-9 lead.
The second quarter was a tightly contested affair, with both teams going neck to neck up to 17-all as the NCF Tigers adjusted their play to stay within striking distance, but Ateneo’s No.70 John Christopher Plaza broke the deadlock with two consecutive three-pointers, pulling the Knights ahead 24-19.
Ateneo stood its ground as the Tigers tried to will their team back, scoring off key shots to close the gap, but the Knights' defense pushed back, holding on to a narrow 27-25 lead despite Tiger's relentless push.
The third quarter erupted as Ateneo’s No. 13 Rodney Fulgar ignited the offense with a series of excruciating three-pointers, suffocating the Tigers. With relentless precision, Domingo sank key free throws, and Tripulca followed up with aggressive layups, clinching a lopsided 39-30 lead.
Playing with a sense of urgency, the NCF Tigers launched a powerful third-quarter onslaught, tightening their defensive screws as Ateneo struggled to score, with Tiger No. 16 and No. 3 hitting free throws to cut the Knights’ lead to just one by the end, 39-38.
In the final stretch, Ateneo surged ahead as No.55 Mhon Aurellano sliced through the defense with explosive layups and a sharp three-pointer, reigniting the Knights’ momentum, but the Tigers answered back with a flurry of layups, keeping the pressure on as the ball bounced back and forth through missed opportunities on both sides, leaving Ateneo a 48-46 lead, with 3:39 left on the clock, as the intensity reached its peak.
With the series on the line, Ateneo’s No. 16 Oscar Beltran drained a three-pointer and hit free throws to widen Ateneo’s lead to 58-51. The Tigers pressed on as No. 24 sunk back-to-back layups, and No. 88 delivered a clutch finish, bringing the score to 60-59, with Ateneo holding on to a slim one-point advantage with 28.48 seconds remaining. A tense scramble ensued, and after a contested play, the referee awarded possession to NCF, setting the stage for a dramatic final sequence.
With just 14 seconds left, NCF’s No. 1, EJ Palilio, drove to the basket and sank the game-winning layup, giving the Tigers a 61-60 victory. Ateneo ended the tournament as first runner-up, while NCF emerged as the BUCAL Season 6 Champions.