Basketball

The Basketball Sneakers Powering the UP Fighting Maroons

By Annika Caniza - November 12, 2024

Fit or function? These players are proving you can have it both ways.

The UP Fighting Maroons have been one of the toughest teams to beat in UAAP Season 87, as they sit second in the standings of the men’s basketball tournament as of writing. They are one of the favorites to win the title this year, but will they live up to expectations and make it all the way?

They still have a long way to go, and as they continue charging for the finish line, let’s take a closer look at the sneakers they’re trusting in for the journey.

JD Cagulangan

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (JD Cagulangan)
(Photos taken by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc.)

UP star player JD Cagulangan was spotted wearing a pair of Nike Sabrina 1s, from the signature line of WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu. Going for the “Magnetic” colorway in black and white, this definitely paired well with the Fighting Maroons’ sleek black jerseys.

Terrence Fortea

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (Terrence Fortea)
(Photo credit: Left image by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc., right image by UAAP Media Bureau)

Sharpshooter Terrence Fortea has been rocking some bright kicks throughout UAAP Season 87, and some pretty rare ones, at that.

Taking a closer look at the UP Fighting Maroon’s kicks, he appears to be wearing a pair of Nike Sabrina 1s, similar to those of his teammate JD, but in a different colorway — a rare colorway, in fact. This violet-and-orange pair appears to be a rare find for a Sabrina 1.

Janjan Felicilda

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (Janjan Felicilda)
(Photo credit: Left image by UAAP Media Bureau, right image by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc.)

Janjan Felicilda’s clean kicks may look simple, but they hold a lot of meaning. Wearing a pair of Nike Kobe 9 Protros in the colorway “Halo,” Felicilda is sporting a pair of shoes that were initially designed for Kobe Bryant’s comeback from his torn Achilles.

Could this energy spark a comeback for the Maroons after facing a couple of losses in the second round of UAAP Season 87?

Francis Lopez

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (Francis Lopez)
(Photo credit: Left image by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc., right image by UAAP Media Bureau)

Another pair that goes seamlessly with UP’s black jerseys is Francis Lopez’s pair of Air Jordan 39s in the sleek “Black/Sail” colorway. Inspired by his ‘Airness’ Michael Jordan, Lopez fittingly leaped high for a big slam dunk over the DLSU Green Archers in their second-round meeting of UAAP Season 87.

Reyland Torres

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (Reyland Torres)
(Photo credit: Left image by UAAP Media Bureau, right image by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc.)

Lighting up the court with his bright sneakers was UP Fighting Maroon Reyland Torres, as he sported a pair of ANTA Kyrie Irving KAI 1s in the vibrant “Jelly” colorway, a fun contrast to UP’s dark jersey.

Kyrie’s collection seems to fit Torres well, as he was also previously spotted rocking the same pair in different colorways, the most memorable occasion being when he wore the limited edition KAI 1s “Chief Hélà.”

Chicco Briones Jr.

The GAME Sneakers: UP Fighting Maroons UAAP Season 87 men's basketball (Chicco Briones Jr.)
(Photos taken by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc.)

Did Chicco Briones Jr.’s shoes remind you of any particular snack?

We spotted the UP Fighting Maroon’s fiery (literally) kicks to the court, a pair of Puma Hoops x Cheetos Scoot Zeros. This limited-edition collaboration with Cheetos is a fun play on Puma’s Scoot Henderson collection and is definitely one of the most unique basketball shoes we’ve seen on the UAAP courts.

Banner images by Kieran Punay of KLIQ Inc. and UAAP Media Bureau.

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