University of the Philippines has been eliminated from the 2024 Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup.
And it’s not because the Fighting Maroons lost.
UP was supposed to face Enderun Colleges in the quarterfinals of the tournament, holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
Game 1 was set to be today, and Game 2 was set to take place tomorrow at Enderun.
However, the Fighting Maroons could not field a complete lineup for both games due to “conflicts with the players’ classes and examinations.”
It was decided by the UP management to forfeit both games, thus paving the way for Enderun to advance to the semifinals.
“With the pursuit of academic excellence as the priority, the UP Fighting Maroons formally bow out of the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup. The league respects the decision of the team to forego its remaining games in the current Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup to give the players time to focus on their respective academic responsibilities,” read the statement from Pinoyliga.
“In the true spirit of sportsmanship, we extend our hands in solidarity in the quest for academic excellence for student-athletes and in upholding the tenets of basketball rules as we strive to provide quality college basketball to the public, and as the team adheres to the rules of the league in situations of forfeiture.”
UP also backed out of the UAAP Season 86 3×3 competition last month due to injuries.
The Fighting Maroons entered the playoffs as the top seed, going unbeaten in eight games.
With this, the Titans will advance to the semifinals, awaiting the winner of the NU Bulldogs and Guang Ming Dragons game.
In the other bracket, the DLSU Green Archers will take on the Letran Knights, with the winner advancing to the semis to face either the Adamson Soaring Falcons or the Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix.
