Over the past three years, University of the Philippines has been a picture of consistency.
Despite stumbling along the way in the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive, the Fighting Maroons are once again back in familiar territory — playing for a championship.
Their campaign has been far from flawless, but UP has clawed its way back to the top.
There was reason to doubt.
The Fighting Maroons dropped back-to-back games in the elimination round to fellow UAAP contenders La Salle and UST.
Entering the knockout phase as the third seed, they were vulnerable.
But for head coach Goldwin Monteverde and his battle-tested Maroons, it was never about cruising through — it was about winning the games that mattered most.
“I think yung collective effort lang talaga ng lahat. We played as a team at malaking bagay sa team yun na marunong sila mag-adjust whatever the circumstances are,” said Monteverde, whose reliance on seniors like Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, and Harold Alarcon has been crucial throughout this campaign.
That collective resolve was put to the test in the quarterfinals.
Facing a determined College of Saint Benilde squad, UP weathered the storm and escaped with a narrow 82-80 win.
The pressure only intensified in the semis against their archrivals, Green Achers.
But when it mattered most, it was prized recruit Noy Remogat who rose to the occasion, steering the Maroons to an 83-78 triumph last July 13.
Now, with the ECJ Perpetual Trophy in sight, UP stands just one win away from an unprecedented third straight Filoil title — a feat no team has achieved in tournament history.
But for Monteverde, the trophy — while meaningful — is just a byproduct of something far more important.
“Sa amin, making it to the finals again is a big accomplishment. But ang mahalaga is we go through the same experiences again, and having the chance to win the preseason for the third straight time will only make the players better,” said Monteverde as he takes on another rival in NU.
True to their identity as a program that values growth as much as glory, the Maroons made sure their development didn’t stall even during the Filoil break.
UP packed their bags and flew to Tacloban City for the Marty Cup.
There, the Fighting Maroons made quick work of local clubs before taking down the NCAA’s Perpetual Altas in the final to bring home the Marty Cup crown.
It was another championship, yes, but more importantly, another opportunity to sharpen their blade.
“Happy kami na we won but we know each day, kung ano lang yung ma-take namin from each game, yun ang kailangan naming ayusin.”
