In the last three seasons of UAAP, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines fought again for the UAAP men's basketball championship game for the second time.
The UP Fighting Maroons successfully dethroned the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP basketball championship season 84 by winning a 72 – 69 overtime triumph last Friday, May 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena. UP was energized by a total team effort to defeat an Ateneo team with a 39-game winning streak before losing three of its last five games. Cansino hit a three-run home run to tie the game with under two minutes left in regulation. When it mattered most, Cagulangan made sure the ball was in his hands so he could make plays for himself or his teammates. And it was their brilliant first-year shot-caller who knew how to put the puzzle together, especially when the stakes were high, and even against Tab Baldwin.
The Fighting Maroons hadn't won a championship since 1986, when mentor Joe Lipa coached Altamirano, Magsanoc, and Paras to victory. State University has undergone what appeared to be an endless rebuild, as they failed to reach the Final Four from 1997 to 2018 and only returned to the finals stage in 2018.
The Blue Eagles have won the UAAP for the past three seasons and were on their way to a fourth after winning their first 13 games by an average of 17.4 points. However, on their 14th assignment, they came up against UP, who handed them their first loss in four years. Three-quarters of the Fighting Maroons' lineup is made up of freshmen, with only Rivero, James Spencer, and Noah Webb returning from last season. Diouf and Lucero are transferred from CEU and Cal State Maritime in the US NAIA, respectively, while Tamayo was recently named Rookie of the Year.
Even Monteverde, a two-time state champion coach at the high school level, had yet to demonstrate that he could handle the higher stakes of the college game. UP found a way through it all, even drawing comparisons to PBA fan-favorite Ginebra and its 'Never Say Die' mentality. "For one thing, yung team takes pride in the fact that we never give up during games, regardless of the score," Monteverde said. "Ang gusto naming mangyari sa team, kung anong mga mali, mga lapses, alam naming doon kami dapat mag-improve," says the coach.
Cagulangan had five points on 1-of-9 shooting with three turnovers after four quarters, then turned it on in overtime with eight points on 3-of-3 shooting with one assist, imprinting his imprint on each of the Fighting Maroons' makes in the crucial period, was the epitome of redemption.
The Scores:
UP: 72 – Diouf 17, Cansino 14, Cagulangan 13, Rivero 9, Alarcon 8, Tamayo 6, Spencer 5, Lucero 0, Abadiano, Fortea 0.
Ateneo: 69 – Belangel 27, Kouame 12, Mamuyac 10 Koon 6, Verano 5, Lazaro 5, Ildefonso 2, Tio 2, Andrade 0, Daves 0, Chiu 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 31-27, 46-47, 59-59 (reg.) 72-69 (OT).
UP Celebrates their Victory
To celebrate this win for the UAAP Season 84, a bonfire was lit up again for the first time since 2014 in UP Diliman. And this time, this is a party to celebrate the return of the UAAP title after a three-decade search, not just a one-win season to end a years-long losing streak.
Even though the school and the handlers had less than 24 hours to prepare, they still successfully delivered a simple street party at UP Baseball Field near the College of Human Kinetics gym for the players and fans. After two years since the pandemic, this has been the most significant mass gathering inside the campus as thousands of people have attended to see the Fighting Maroons celebrate their well-deserved victory.
There were free drinks and food for everyone, and famous alumni also went to celebrate this win, like Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Noel Cabangon. The industry legend Noel Cabangon serenaded the champions by singing, "We are the Champions."
Finals heroes JD Cagulangan and CJ Cansino, Finals MVP Malick Diouf, Mythical Five members Zavier Lucero and Carl Tamayo, and graduating players Ricci Rivero and Noah Webb all had the opportunity to express their love for the UP community and receive love in return.
The program was ended by a blazing fire to signify the end of a long, exhausting, and often heartbreaking wait to return to the top of the UAAP basketball world.
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