The UP Fighting Maroons aren’t about to let their foot off the gas after sealing their spot in the Final Four — only the second team to do so in UAAP Season 88.
UP reached into its bag of tricks Sunday to fend off Adamson, 70-65, en route to a seventh straight Final Four in UAAP men’s basketball — the longest active streak in the league.
But for graduating skipper Gerry Abadiano, there is much more that they need to work on, especially if they want to graduate as champions and give UP its third title in the last five UAAP seasons, after previously waiting decades in between the school's first two titles.
Despite their slow start where they lost their first two games, the Fighting Maroons have since been on the rise, winning nine of their last 10 assignments.
Now more than ever, the defending champions hope to continue their winning ways.
“Malaking bagay [na nanalo kami ngayon] lalo na sa amin na graduating kasi ang goal talaga namin ay makapasok sa Final Four, makuha ‘yung championship,” said Abadiano.
“Hindi kami puwedeng makampante, marami pa kaming kailangan iimprove.”
[RELATED: UAAP: UP seals Final Four slot after revenge win over Adamson]
UP will have time to further fine tune its play heading into the semis, with fellow contenders Ateneo and La Salle still remaining on the schedule.
But if their season so far has taught the Fighting Maroons anything, it’s to not take anything for granted.
“Papasok ng Final Four and last two games namin, alam namin na magiging mahirap yun, hindi magiging madali yun so harapin lang namin nang maayos yun and respond lang sa mga challenges na ibibigay sa amin every game," Abadiano said.
"Huwag lang kami makampante and continue lang kami sa pag work,” he added.
Abadiano took it upon himself to keep the Soaring Falcons at bay on Sunday, but also chipping in big was fellow super senior Reyland Torres.
Like Abadiano, Torres is in his final year with UP and they make up two of the team's “Maroon 5” along with Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Janjan Felicilda.
All raring to get one final championship with UP, they’re bringing their best foot forward.
Abadiano finished with 16 points to lead the scoring column with Francis Nnoruka. He also had three rebounds and one steal.
Meanwhile, Torres had seven points.
‘Wala nang bawian’
Though Torres’ numbers weren’t exactly eye-popping, he helped UP hang on for the victory with crucial makes in the endgame.
With the result on the line, Torres scored with 1:57 ticks left to make it an eight-point game, 65-57.
For him, it’s all or nothing at this point — with UP hoping to make its first-ever successful title defense in UAAP men’s basketball.
“Siguro sobrang eager [kami] kasi last year na namin, gustong-gusto namin makuha una ‘yung Final Four saka ‘yung championship. Final year na, wala nang balikan, wala nang bawian so give na lang namin lahat ng best namin,” he said.
Against Adamson, UP leaned on Gani Stevens as well as he finished with seven points, 19 rebounds, and two assists.
The Soaring Falcons, meanwhile rode the hot hand of Ray Allen Torres with 23 points.
UP stays firmly in the top 2 with its 9-3 record, while Adamson faces a logjam in the middle of the standings with a 5-7 slate.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.