La Salle, UST make history in Game 3 by producing highest TV ratings ever for a UAAP event

By Anton Roxas Posted Oct 15th 2013

Last Saturday, October 12, 2013, the two finalists in the UAAP Season 76 Men’s basketball tournament, De La Salle University and the University of Sto. Tomas figured in an epic winner-take-all Game 3 that saw the Green Archers prevail over the Growling Tigers in overtime, 71-69. After 5 tumultuous seasons, DLSU finally recaptured the championship it last won in 2007 (UAAP Season 70) and notched their eight title overall.

On top of that, a record crowd of 23,396 people were present at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to witness the memorable Game 3 encounter between the two proud institutions. That was the highest recorded attendance in the history of the basketball tournament in the UAAP.

As students, fans, alumni and supporters of the two schools cheered their hearts out inside the venue, countless others witnessed the event all over the country by tuning in to ABC-CBN Channel 2. With millions of sports fans around the archipelago glued to their TV sets, Game 3 of the UAAP Finals experienced its highest ratings ever for a UAAP event.

According to Kantar Media, Game 3 generated a 15.3 rating, making it the highest rated program in its time slot, beating Startalk, which rated 7.6. Previously, the UAAP Finals reached a high of 10.1 in Game 2 only to be eclipsed seven days later by the Game 3 turnout.

Prior to this season, the previous high was Game 1 of the 2011 UAAP Finals between Ateneo de Manila University and Far Eastern University, which rated at 9.76.

2013 marks the fourth year that the UAAP Finals aired on ABS-CBN Channel 2.