The UP Fighting Maroons have broken through to regain the UAAP men’s basketball title in a rematch against defending champs De La Salle Green Archers.
Following a heartbreaking Game 2 loss, the UP Fighting Maroons successfully recaptured the UAAP throne in a cardiac 66-62 Game 3 victory over defending champs De La Salle Green Archers on Sunday in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Maroons edged out La Salle to bring home their second UAAP title under head coach Goldwin Monteverde in front of a record-breaking crowd of 25,248 at the Big Dome. In winning the title, UP also avoids a third straight runner-up finish following their breakthrough title in Season 84 in 2022.
UP seemed to have broken the game open anew in the second half, going on a 12-3 run to turn a 42-37 advantage into a 54-40 lead midway through the third quarter.
However, the defending champs were quick to respond with their own 16-2 blast in the waning minutes of the third period, which was punctuated by a game-tying Kevin Quiambao triple at the 9:14 mark of the final period to level the game at 56-all.
A combined five-point spurt from Quentin Millora-Brown and JD Cagulangan, though, restored order for State U, as it gave them a 61-58 advantage over the defending champs midway in the fourth.
But the championship clinching shot came from Francis Lopez, who hit a triple with 1:13 left in regulation that gave UP a crucial four-point cushion. While EJ Gollena quickly replied with a deuce, crucial free throws from Millora-Brown completed the Maroons’ redemption tour.
Banner image courtesy of Kieran Punay/KLIQ.