A BLAZE of glory was reignited in Diliman.
It took 36 long years for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to savor a championship bonfire. This time, they only waited for two.
Delivering a masterclass in resilience, the UP Maroons dethroned the Dela Salle Green Archers, in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals, 66-62, before a record crowd of 25,248 fans clad in either maroon or green.
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Less than a day after the win at the Big Dome, the team brought the celebration home to Diliman, where a euphoric community welcomed their heroes led by Finals MVP JD Cagulangan, the driving force behind the Maroons’ resurgence in UAAP basketball.
“Manalo man o matalo, nando’n pa rin kayo para sa’min. Deserve niyo po talaga ng championship. Para po sa inyo ‘to,” said Cagulangan.
Amidst the resounding cheers and applause of the UP community, one-and-done talent Quentin Millora-Brown expressed nothing but heartfelt gratitude.
“Really, this championship was for you guys. Your energy, your support throughout this season — that’s what got it done,” said Millora-Brown.
Francis Lopez, partly blamed for the Game Two loss who later redeemed himself by nailing the decisive three-pointer in the final seconds of Game 3, shared a quirky yet earnest message after his clutch performance.
“Sa wakas, nakuha na natin ang kampeon... Thank you lahat sa inyo. Sana sa next year, we will get it again. We will try our best,” said Lopez.
Joining the festivities were the UP Fighting Maroons’ long-time sponsors and alumni backers, which joined in the celebration spiked by performances by Eraserheads, Johnoy Danao, Sandwich, the UP Pep Squad, and UP Streetdance.
The championship bonfire was not just a celebration for the men’s basketball team but also a tribute to the champion teams in men’s track and field and women’s badminton, highlighting a triumphant season for State U.
In a departure from the tradition of lighting bonfires after a single elimination-round victory, this time, the fire symbolized one ultimate truth — there is truly nowhere to go but UP.
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