Since UAAP Season 84, the UP Fighting Maroons have reached the Finals and won Game 1, but with only one championship to show—will they finally change their fate in Season 87?
Over the past four years, the UP Fighting Maroons have forged a legacy of dominance. Since UAAP Season 84, they've been a constant presence in the men’s basketball Finals, making their mark with commanding Game 1 victories in the best-of-three series.
This season is no exception.
Kicking off with unparalleled intensity, the Fighting Maroons struck first in the championship battle against La Salle in Season 87. Despite having only one championship under their belt since their breakthrough title in UAAP Season 84, the team is playing with the fire of contenders hungry for more.
With the stage set for a high-stakes best-of-three clash against the DLSU Green Archers, let’s revisit the commanding Game 1 triumph—a performance that sends an unmistakable message: The Fighting Maroons are chasing nothing but greatness.
UAAP Season 84: Rising UP to Glory
vs. Ateneo Blue Eagles
History was rewritten when the UP Fighting Maroons snapped the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ dominant 39-game winning streak at the end of the elimination round.
In the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball Finals, the Maroons took Game 1 in thrilling fashion, securing an 81-74 overtime victory at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
That monumental win placed them on the brink of destiny.
But Ateneo fought back hard in Game 2, narrowly defeating UP, 69-66, and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
It was in this heart-stopping finale that the Maroons etched their names in history. Overcoming adversity and the weight of a 36-year title drought, UP prevailed in another overtime classic, 72-69, to claim the championship and igniting a celebration that had been decades in the making.
UAAP Season 85: Marooned in Defeat
vs. Ateneo Blue Eagles
It was a moment that felt like déjà vu for the UP Fighting Maroons as they once again faced off against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a high-pressure showdown.
Determined to defend their hard-won crown the season prior, the Maroons seized Game 1 with a 72-66 victory, showing their resilience and heart in the best-of-three series of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball Finals.
But Ateneo, relentless in its title pursuit, bounced back with a 65-55 win to once again force a Game 3.
This time, however, the tide would turn.
Despite their best efforts, fate was not in the Maroons’ favor. In the end, the Ateneo Blue Eagles triumphed with a 75-68 victory, completing their redemption story, while the Fighting Maroons’ journey to repeat glory fell short.
UAAP Season 86: Bleeding in Maroon
vs. DLSU Green Archers
The UP Fighting Maroons entered the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Finals with the same drive, facing a new challenge in the DLSU Green Archers.
In Game 1, the Maroons made a powerful statement, dominating with a 97-67 win and showcasing their fierce hunger for another championship.
But the Green Archers weren’t backing down. In a decisive Game 2 response, La Salle came out swinging and secured an 82-60 victory to level the series.
With the same fierce determination they’ve had since UAAP Season 84, the Maroons gave everything in Game 3.
But it was indeed a Taft battle, where every inch was hard-fought.
In the end, the Green Archers clinched the title with a 73-69 win, leaving the Maroons to face yet another crushing defeat.
UAAP Season 87: UP’s Battle for a New Fate
vs. DLSU Green Archers
Back on the same court facing the familiar foe, the UP Fighting Maroons were determined to rewrite their story and avoid the same painful fate.
With the same fire, they surged ahead, snapping a four-game losing streak against La Salle and drawing first blood in the Season 87 men’s basketball Finals.
In a thrilling display of defense and resolve, the Maroons locked down La Salle in the second half, claiming a crucial 73-65 victory in Game 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For the past two seasons, fate has eluded them, but the UP Fighting Maroons are determined to change their destiny.
With the hunger for redemption burning stronger than ever, they’re ready to reclaim their glory and seal the deal against the defending champions, the DLSU Green Archers.
Will this be the year the Maroons rise to the occasion and seize the glory they’ve fought so hard for?
The UP Fighting Maroons are set for an all-out epic clash against the DLSU Green Archers on December 11, Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.
ALSO READ: UP Fighting Maroons repulse La Salle to take Game 1 of UAAP Season 87 Finals