UP Fighting Maroons celebrate their hard-earned UAAP Season 86 championship victory over La Salle, marking their second title in recent years and solidifying their legacy of resilience and unity. Photo from UAAP Season 87 Media Team via nowhere To Go But UP.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons have claimed their fourth University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball championship in Season 87, dethroning the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in a dramatic Game 3 on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Maroons defeated the defending champions 66-62 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 25,248, securing their fourth overall title and their second in four seasons, following their Season 84 victory over another defending championship team from Ateneo de Manila University.
This championship victory is particularly sweet for UP, as it marks their redemption after losing to La Salle in their first UAAP finals confrontation last year. It also completes their comeback after losing in the finals in Seasons 85 and 86.
The Finals Series:
Game 1: UP 73, La Salle 65
In a stunning opener on December 8, UP snapped a four-game losing streak against La Salle, with Quentin Millora-Brown leading the way with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Despite a strong first-half performance from La Salle’s MVP Kevin Quiambao, UP held on to take a commanding lead in the second half, securing the first victory of the series.
“We know if we’re gonna play against La Salle, the defense is really key to win the game, and I felt in the second half, we had more intensity defensively. We communicated better. For me, it was a total team effort,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Review the Game 1 Video Highlights here:
Game 2: La Salle 76, UP 75
La Salle bounced back in Game 2 on December 11, winning 76-75 in a nail-biting finish. Despite a late-game surge from UP’s JD Cagulangan, La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao delivered clutch shots, leading the Archers to extend the series to a deciding Game 3.
See the Game 2 highlights video here:
Game 3: UP 66, La Salle 62
In the thrilling finale on December 15, UP pulled through with grit and determination. The Maroons led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, and though La Salle mounted a late comeback, UP held on to clinch the title. Millora-Brown played a crucial role, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, including two pivotal free throws in the final seconds to seal the game.
“We wanted this so badly, and we didn’t want to settle for second place,” said Coach Monteverde after the game. “Yung sakit ng two years, ginawa naming motivation. No matter how hard it is to prepare, nilaban namin (The pain from the two years, we turned it into motivation. No matter how hard it was to prepare, we fought for it).”
Quentin Millora-Brown’s free throws with 11.3 seconds left gave UP a four-point lead, while La Salle’s last-minute attempts, including a missed three-pointer from Quiambao, fell short. Cagulangan, named the Finals MVP, ended his career with 12 points in Game 3, completing an impressive series performance.
The Maroons ended the regular season as the second seed with an 11-3 record, ultimately defeating the University of Santo Tomas in the semifinals. La Salle, the top seed, finished the season 12-2.
Final Scores:
UP 66 – Millora-Brown 14, Lopez 12, Cagulangan 12, Abadiano 9, Alarcon 7, Fortea 4, Stevens 4, Torres 2.
La Salle 62 – Phillips 18, Quiambao 13, David 6, Macalalag 6, Agunnane 5, Ramiro 5, Austria 3, Gollena 2.
WATCH the Game Highlights video here:
The UP Fighting Maroons’ thrilling championship win is a testament to their resilience and dedication. Relive the action and share in their victory by reading more about their incredible journey and celebrating this historic win for Filipino basketball on Good Sport!
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