Battle of the East

Last updated

FEU–UE Rivalry
Last MeetingNovember 22, 2025 (84–77, FEU)
Next MeetingTBA
Current Streak
History
Pennant EraTied 2–2
1960 UAAP FinalsUE won, 87–86
1961 UAAP FinalsFEU won, 105–84
1975 UAAP FinalsUE won, 85–80
1976 UAAP FinalsFEU won, 91–82
UAAP Final Four 4–1 (FEU)
1998 UAAP Basketball SemifinalsFEU won, 81–68, 83–61
2003 UAAP Basketball SemifinalsFEU won, 67–63
2004 UAAP Basketball SemifinalsFEU won, 71–64
2005 UAAP Basketball SemifinalsFEU won, 78–57
2009 UAAP Basketball SemifinalsUE won, 84–74, 78–72
Philippine Collegiate Championship Series tied 1–1
2002 PCC ChampionshipUE won, 2–0
2004 PCC ChampionshipFEU won, 1–0
Men's Basketball Records
UAAP Final Four Appearances
  • FEU – 22
  • UE – 12

UAAP Championships

  • FEU – 20 (1st)
  • UE – 18 (tied for 2nd with UST)

Final Four format first introduced in 1993

Battle of the East
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270m
294yds
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UE
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FEU
Locations of FEU and UE

The "Battle of the East" is a college rivalry between the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and University of the East Red Warriors. Others would refer to it as the Battle of Morayta, because of the street that runs between these universities. They have a combined 38 UAAP Basketball titles.

Contents

History

FEU left the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1936 and later on to form the University Athletic Association of the Philippines along with University of Santo Tomas, National University and the University of the Philippines in 1938. UE was part of the first UAAP expansion with Adamson University in 1952. It did not take long for the Warriors to dominate since joining the league as it holds the longest finals appearance with 16 from 1957 to 1972, including a seven straight title run from 1965 to 1971 (1967 title to be shared with UST), [1] with FEU winning the title in 1961 and 1972. [2]

Notable Games

1960 UAAP Finals

UE stormed back from 81–75 with three minutes left to play at the half to complete an upset, 87–86 taking the El Oro trophy home in front of a crowded Rizal Memorial Coliseum. A run started with Norman de Vera's two free throws after being fouled by Rohimust Santos to cut the lead, while sophomore Rizaldo Pabillore came up with two interceptions all within the last three minutes of the second half to earn their third title.

1961 UAAP Second Round Eliminations

UE subdued FEU, 78–74 in the second round of the UAAP basketball series at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. But the jam-packed crowd of 9,000 (over maximum capacity of the coliseum) got an unexpected show after the final buzzer when cagers from both teams engaged in an impromptu brawl on the floor. The fight was triggered off by a last-second scuffle for the ball between Tamaraw Romy Diaz and Warrior Carlos Quitzon. Quitzon had the ball and was being harassed by Diaz when the buzzer sounded and hell broke loose. Searing blast by lanky Jimmy Mariano and clutch baskets by Jose Sison and Wenceslao Olaguera at the homestretch saved the Warriors after they were behind by six points. Mariano scored twice on a twisting shot to regain the lead for UE, 63–60, with five minutes left in the game. The two schools met again in the finals with FEU winning the championship.

1981 UAAP Finals

With the game on the line, University of the East rookie Allan Caidic, with the chance of beating the rival FEU to win the championship, missed both free throws and let the Tamaraws led by Glenn Capacio steal the 1981 title. Caidic, with the rest of UE squad, won the championship the following year after beating the University of the Philippines.

2009 UAAP Semifinals

Holding a twice to beat advantage, the second-seeded Tamaraws fell short during the Game 1 of the series, 74–84, without their sophomore guard Mark Barroca, who was accused of game-fixing prior to his performance on the team's last stretch of the elimination. Going on to the second game of the series, a much favored FEU, despite a 49–39 lead at the half, once again took the beating as Paul Lee and the Warriors pulled an upset and entered the finals with the score of 72–78 to face Ateneo.

Game Results

Final Four Era

FEU victoriesUE victories
Notes
  1. 2nd seed-playoff.
  2. Semifinals. FEU won in the finals vs. Ateneo.
  3. Semifinals. FEU lost in the finals vs. La Salle, however, all of La Salle's games were forfeited from Seasons 66 to 68. The UAAP Board subsequently awarded the trophy to FEU in 2006.
  4. Semifinals. FEU won in the finals vs. La Salle.
  5. Semifinals. UE forced a rubber match.
  6. Semifinals. UE lost in the finals vs. Ateneo.

Final Four Rankings

For comparison, these are the elimination round rankings of these two teams since the Final Four format was introduced.

Seniors' division

A.Y.FEUUE
1993–1994 4th5th
1994–1995 4th2nd
1995–1996 4th3rd
1996–1997 6th4th
1997–1998 1st5th
1998–1999 2nd3rd
1999–2000 4th5th
2000–2001 3rd5th
2001–2002 3rd5th
2002–2003 5th2nd
2003–2004 2nd3rd
2004–2005 1st4th
2005–2006 1st4th
2006–2007 5th2nd
2007–2008 5th1st
2008–2009 3rd4th
2009–2010 2nd3rd
2010–2011 1st6th
2011–2012 3rd7th
2012–2013 5th7th
2013–2014 3rd6th
2014–2015 2nd5th
2015–2016 2nd6th
2016–2017 3rd7th
2017–2018 4th7th
2018–2019 4th8th
2019–2020 3rd7th
2021–2022 4th8th
2022–2023 7th6th
2023–2024 7th6th
2024–2025 6th5th

Offseason meetings

FEU victoriesUE victories

Volleyball Statistics

Men's volleyball results

FEU victoriesUE victories

Women's volleyball results

FEU victoriesUE victories

See also

References

  1. "UE Red Warriors".
  2. "FEU Tamaraws".
  3. Anzures, Rom (September 18, 2024). "UAAP: Ethan Galang catches fire in the clutch as UE gets first win at FEU's expense". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  4. Agcaoli, Lance (September 18, 2024). "UAAP: UE rallies past FEU behind Ethan Galang's heroics". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  5. Isaga, JR (November 3, 2024). "UE woes continue with slow start as all-heart FEU keeps Final Four hopes alive". Rappler . Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  6. "NU pulls off upset against UP; FEU remains in Final Four hunt with win vs UE". GMA Integrated News. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  7. Carandang, Justin Kenneth (October 19, 2025). "UAAP: FEU beats undermanned UE to end first round on high note". GMA Integrated News . Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  8. Anzures, Rom (October 19, 2025). "UAAP: FEU dominates UE to compound Red Warriors' woes". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  9. Anzures, Rom (November 22, 2025). "UAAP: Tamaraws survive Red Warriors scare to stay in Final 4 race". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  10. Naredo, Camille (March 3, 2020). "AAP: FEU powers past UE for winning start to men's volleyball campaign". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  11. Isaga, JR (March 26, 2025). "Rolling FEU rises to 2nd in UAAP women's volley, sends UE to brink". Rappler . Retrieved October 18, 2025.