In a grueling war of attrition that went the distance, University of the Philippines showcased its unwavering commitment and perseverance amidst all the drama, distractions, and challenges.
The Fighting Maroons refused to settle for second place this time, claiming the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Championship by dethroning the De La Salle University Green Archers in thrilling fashion, 66-62, in Game 3.
The victory set a Smart Araneta Coliseum record crowd of 25,248 on Sunday evening.
This championship completed UP’s redemption arc after losing to La Salle last year and marked their fourth overall title, and second in four seasons, following a 36-year drought that was ended in Season 84 (2022).
“I want to thank God for this one. Yung preparation ang pinaka-importante sa amin. Siyempre, yung sakit ng two years, ginawa naming motivation. No matter how hard it is to prepare, nilaban namin,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, clinching his second crown after finishing as runner-up in Seasons 85 and 86.
“It was tough, especially with a team like La Salle. They have a strong program,” he added.
“Nung natalo kami nung elimination round, we needed to take away the doubt. Yung belief namin sa sarili namin, binalik namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Fighting Maroons took Game 1, 73-65, before the Green Archers bounced back in Game 2, 76-75.
Ahead by just a single point in the decider, Francis Lopez – who had missed all four key free throws in Game 2 – extended UP’s lead to four with a top-of-the-key three-pointer at the 1:12 mark, making it 64-60.
Though EJ Gollena scored a quick layup off a steal to cut the Green Archers’ deficit to two, UP’s Quentin Millora-Brown stayed composed, sinking two crucial free throws with 11.3 seconds remaining to seal the game.
Kevin Quiambao attempted a triple in the final moments, but his shot was off-target. Gollena, despite being fouled, missed two free throws, further sealing La Salle’s fate.
A critical stretch during the fourth quarter raised some eyebrows when Quiambao was pulled from the court and replaced by Mike Phillips at the 5:20 mark, since UP held just a three-point lead, 61-58.
With no stoppages on both ends for an extended period, Quiambao couldn’t re-enter until the 1:49 mark, with the score still at 61-58 in favor of the Fighting Maroons.
UP had built a 14-point lead in the third quarter, thanks to free throws by Gerry Abadiano, pushing the score to 54-40. But La Salle rallied with contributions from CJ Austria, Joshua David, Quiambao, and Phillips to close the gap.
Millora-Brown, a one-and-done center from The Citadel in the US NCAA Division 1, led UP’s charge in the rubber match with 14 points and 10 rebounds – including the pivotal free throws that iced the game and earned the school its title.
Lopez finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists against nine turnovers, while CP Cagulangan tallied 12 points in his final game for the Fighting Maroons.
Cagulangan had an impressive Finals series against his former team, averaging 13.66 points, 4.33 rebounds, and 4.66 assists, earning the Spotify Wrapped Finals MVP.
“First of all, gusto ko magpasalamat sa Diyos. Hindi niya kami pinabayaan. Madami kaming ups and downs at ginuide niya kami ng maayos,” said Cagulangan, the player who ended UP’s 36-year title drought in Season 84.
“Gusto ko magpasalamat kay Coach Gold at sa buong coaching staff dahil sa tiwala na binigay nila sa amin. At sa mga teammates ko, salamat sa inyo pare. Ang dami nating pinagdaanan,” he continued.
UP ended the elimination round as the second seed with an 11-3 record.
They ousted University of Santo Tomas in the semifinals before reclaiming their place at the top of UAAP men’s basketball.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Phillips paced the Green Archers with 18 points and 12 rebounds but fouled out when he sent Millora-Brown to the line, which proved to be the final blow.
Quiambao, possibly playing his last game for La Salle, was limited to 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting, and his playmaking was absent, with zero assists.
La Salle finished as the top seed in the eliminations with a 12-2 record, then cruised past Adamson University in the Final Four but ultimately fell short in the championship series.
David and Lian Ramiro will be gone next season as La Salle looks to regroup and seek redemption, though they will gain highly touted recruits including Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, and Mason Amos.
The Scores:
UP 66 – Millora-Brown 14, Lopez 12, Cagulangan 12, Abadiano 9, Alarcon 7, Fortea 4, Stevens 4, Torres 2, Ududo 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Torculas 0.
DLSU 62 – Phillips 18, Quiambao 13, David 6, Macalalag 6, Agunnane 5, Ramiro 5, Austria 3, Gollena 2, Rubico 2, Dungo 2, Marasigan 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 21-21, 42-36, 56-50, 66-62.
