JE C.C.
The last time the UP Men’s basketball team, UP Fighting Maroons, took home the championship crown was in 1986.
The UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship officially returned to the University of the Philippines, as the UP Fighting Maroons fended off the Ateneo Blue Eagles from extending its winning streak to a third consecutive year.
The UP Fighting Maroons toppled the Eagles with a mighty three-point lead that ended theirrival’s quest to get its 11th championship. The Fighting Maroons’ 72-69 win at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 13, meanwhile, handed the team its third championship crown. Previously, the team won the title in 1940 and in 1986. An overtime match allowed the Maroons to [finally] crush the Eagles’ advances towards the crown.
Malick Diouf got awarded the final’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, having pulled off 17 points and nine rebounds, while CJ Cansino and JD Cagulangan finished with 14 points and 13 points, respectively. Ricci Rivero, meanwhile, managed to make a still-impressive 9 points. Ateneo’s SJ Belangel led the Eagles with a 27-point finish, although it was obviously not enough to push his team’s total points past the winning mark.
The UP Fighting Maroons earning a spot in the finals is historic, as it was also in 1986 that the team accomplished such a feat.
On twitter, fans and netizens joined the UP community as they celebrated the team’s win. Several topics and hashtags related to the Fighting Maroons’ win, such as #UPFight and #UAAPFinals , promptly made it to the top trending topics in the Philippines.
On its official Twitter account, the University of the Philippines expressed its congratulatory message to the team. “FINAL: The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons ✊��� wins the Championship game over the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles���, 72-69, in the last Battle of Katipunan of UAAP Season 84.” its tweet reads,
FINAL: The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons ✊🏼 wins the Championship game over the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles🦅, 72-69, in the last Battle of Katipunan of UAAP Season 84.#IpanaloNaNatinTo #AtinTo #UPFight! ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/PCyBqLVQoi
— University of the Philippines (@upsystem) May 13, 2022
FINAL: The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons ✊🏼 wins the Championship game over the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles🦅, 72-69, in the last Battle of Katipunan of UAAP Season 84.#IpanaloNaNatinTo #AtinTo #UPFight! ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/PCyBqLVQoi
— University of the Philippines (@upsystem) May 13, 2022
Many noted how the Maroons’ historic victory is timely, as many still try to cope with the results of the recently-held national elections.
“We need this right now! Salamat UP Fighting Maroons!” John shared in a tweet.
We need this right now! Salamat UP Fighting Maroons!
— John Ultra (@jultra_) May 13, 2022
