With the loss, the UP Fighting Maroons could no longer finish higher than fifth place in their maiden World University Basketball Series 2025 stint, with a dream all-Filipino Final with rivals DLSU Green Archers dashed.
It was a case of "too little, too late" for UP.
The Fighting Maroons saw their comeback attempt fall short against Korea University, absorbing a tight 71-75 loss in their World University Basketball Series 2025 opener at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium on Saturday, August 9.
Chicco Briones knocked down a clutch triple to tie the game at 65-all for UP, only for Minsoo Yoo to answer with a layup and put Korea University back in front at 67-65 with 1:07 remaining in regulation.
With a 67-66 lead, Yuhyeon Moon then hit a critical three-pointer to extend the Koreans' advantage to 70-66 with 25.2 seconds left.
Korea University then took care of business from the free throw line in a game where UP never tasted the lead.
It was a nightmarish start for the Fighting Maroons earlier, who found themselves trailing early, 1-19, and didn’t make their first field goal until the 4:43 mark when Terrence Fortea hit a transition triple.
With the loss, UP dropped to a showdown against the University of Sydney for a chance to earn a place in the fifth-place classification match.
Earlier, fellow Philippine team and defending champions DLSU Green Archers survived a late rally from the NCCU in the fourth quarter to advance to the semifinals.
[ALSO READ: Mike Phillips block helps DLSU survive late Chinese Taipei stand in WUBS 2025 opener]
The Green Archers will face the Japan University Select Team — who demolished the University of Hong Kong with a 67-point blowout — for a spot in the championship round tomorrow, August 10, at 2:40 p.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE, RESULTS | UP, DLSU compete at World University Basketball Series 2025]