UP Fighting Maroons End 36-Year UAAP Championship Drought

The UP Fighting Maroons took home the coveted University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men's basketball championship title.

After last winning the title in 1986, UP reclaimed the throne in a historic and tension-filled battle against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on May 13.

The pursuit ended at a 72-69 victory, in favor of the Maroons over their Katipunan neighbor, basketball dynasty, and 3-peat defending champion, the Blue Eagles.

“It's all about us knowing how good the team is and what the team is capable of doing,” said Maroons’ team captain Ricci Rivero in a postgame interview, “As long as we stay together as a team and trust coach Gold's system, we can do it."

UP manifested their teamwork midway through Game 3 when they were at a 4-point lead (31-27).

Ateneo evened out the playing field as guard SJ Belangel brought up Eagles’ numbers, only to be replied with a 3-point shot from Maroons’ CJ Cansino.

Shots were fired, one after the other, showing how eager each team is to win. “Everyone was hungry for victory because of recent events,” said UPD chancellor Fidel Nemenzo pertaining to the recent national elections results which did not favor both universities’ bet.

The ball kept going back and forth even until the last few seconds of the fourth quarter. It ended with a 59-all, thus forcing a five-minute overtime.

“Playing against Ateneo, a very disciplined and great team, we really prepared for them,” said UP Maroons’ head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

During the overtime round, Ateneo guard and senior Gian Mamuyac and Season MVP Ange Kouame worked double time to bring the Eagles to an advantage.

But the Maroons refused to back down and fought their way to close the gap. Finals MVP Malick Diouf’s dunks and Game 3 hero JD Cagulangan’s buzzer-beating three-point shot secured UP’s win.

“Sobrang sarap. Wala akong masabi kasi champion na kami,” said Cagulangan.

In the games leading up to the championship battle, it has always been a do-or-die battle between the two universities, with UP winning Game 1 with a 7-point lead while Ateneo conquering Game 2 by 3 points.