Photo courtesy of The UAAP
QUEZON CITY — After two seasons of being runners-up, the UP Fighting Maroons etch their names in UAAP history once again as they emerged victorious in a thrilling Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals against the DLSU Green Archers, December 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In a breathtaking winner-takes-all match, the Maroons triumphed with a hard-fought 66-62 victory, securing their second title in three years after finishing with back-to-back silver medals.
After quenching their 36-year thirst for a title back in 2021, the Maroons went on to reach the Finals for the next two years but would only get as much as a second-place finish after being thwarted by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in 2022 and La Salle last year.
This time though, things have turned out differently and nicely for UP as they finally got over their two-years worth of heartache.
Standout guard JD Cagulangan, who provided the heroics needed to clinch the Season 84 men’s basketball chip for the Maroons, had a lot to be thankful following UP’s fourth crown overall.
“Gusto ko magpasalamat kay Coach Gold, sa lahat ng coaches sub niya sa tiwala na binigay sa amin. And of course sa mga teammates ko, ito na. And of course sa UP Community, winelcome niyo po ako ng maayos, sobrang welcome. Salamat po sa apat na season,” said Cagulangan who also rightfully won the Finals MVP.
Cagulangan, who started his basketball career in UP as a champion, now ends it as both a champion along with his Finals MVP plum, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the Maroons’ rise to glory.
Both teams battled fiercely from the opening tip but the Maroons took a slim 42-36 lead come halftime fueled by Cagulangan’s 9 points and Quincy Millora-Brown’s 8, while DLSU stayed close thanks to Michael Phillips’ 15 points.
The Season 86 Finals rematch lived up to its billing even more when DLSU erased a six-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 56-all.
In the final 11 seconds, with UP clinging to a two-point lead, Cagulangan orchestrated a key play to Millora-Brown, whose defensive effort, followed by a crucial stop, sealed the win and brought the trophy back to Diliman.
The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for La Salle, with Phillips giving his all on the court while back-to-back Season MVP Kevin Quiambao and Macalalag stepped up with key points but was all for naught as the final buzzer rang along to the tune of maroon-clad fans cheering and waved their banners to celebrate a long-awaited victory.
Article by Mary Fiona Rubenecia