The UP Fighting Maroons overcame a shaky start to their title defense to storm into the UAAP Season 88 Final Four as the no. 2 seed.
The UP Fighting Maroons are eager to prove themselves as proper champions as they head to the Final Four portion of their UAAP Season 88 title defense.
After starting the season 0-2, the Fighting Maroons ended up as the second seed with a 10-4 slate and own a twice-to-beat advantage in their 7th straight Final Four appearance — currently, the longest active streak in the league.
Having endured some key losses to their championship team from last year, UP had to dig deep to set up its opportunity to win back-to-back UAAP titles for the first time ever.
Already with four-straight Finals appearances with two titles, back-to-back championships will no doubt establish the Fighting Maroons as the next dynasty in UAAP men’s basketball, a worthy motivation for the program.
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Before UP traverses its Final Four campaign against dangerous UST, we dive into what made the Fighting Maroons primed for success in Season 88.
(Big) Man in the Middle
Perhaps one of the more glaring differences between last year’s championship team and this year’s current roster is the lack of a true dominant big man.
Having enjoyed the services of one-and-done Quentin Millora-Brown in Season 87, the Fighting Maroons needed to fill in the hole he left — and it didn’t help that Francis Lopez also bid the Maroons goodbye in favor of a professional career in Japan.
The discrepancy was noticeable against UST in their opening game, with presumptive Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe having his way in the paint in a dominant win for the Growling Tigers to start the season.
But the Fighting Maroons have been able to steady themselves as the season went on.
Holdovers Gani Stevens and Sean Alter have shown flashes of brilliance in Season 88, and foreign student-athlete Francis Nnoruka has been holding down the fort as well.
Nnoruka actually leads the Fighting Maroons in scoring, finishing with averages of 12.57 points and 9.07 rebounds per contest. He also gets the lion’s share of playing time with a norm of 24:34 minutes of action.
With Akowe and UST waiting to challenge them on the other side, the Fighting Maroons will need their big men to step up once again.
‘Cramming’ Maroons
If the Fighting Maroons are known for anything, it's their never-say-die attitude and heart-stopping games that have left fans on the edge of their seat.
For the past few seasons, now Suwon KT Sonicboom guard JD Cagulangan was the man of the hour for UP in clutch moments.
But since leaving the team after leading them to the title last year, UP also had to fill a JD-shaped hole in the team's heart.
Thankfully for head coach Goldwin Monteverde, more than one player has stepped up to that role.
The likes of Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, and Noy Remogat have all tried their hand in clutch moments, lift the Fighting Maroons to victory this year.
With more options on offense, UP has found strength in its numbers.
From Abadiano’s sleek midrange game, to booming triples from Alarcon and Remogat, there’s more than enough room to go around in UP’s arsenal.
Looking for a repeat
The biggest test of the season still lies ahead for the Fighting Maroons.
Having been jolted awake in a 20-point beatdown against UST in the aforementioned opener, UP has since achieved a measure of revenge with a close win against the Growling Tigers in the second round.
In a rematch of last year’s Final Four matchup, UP will need its A-game against the Growling Tigers.
UP faces UST on Wednesday, December 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for a fast pass to the championship round.
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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.