HEAD COACH: Goldwin Monteverde (5th season)
LAST SEASON: 11-3 (champion)
HOLDOVERS: Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Harold Alarcon, Jacob Bayla, Gani Stevens, Janjan Felicilda, Reyland Torres, Mark Belmonte, Sean Alter
SUBTRACTIONS: JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, Quentin Millora-Brown, Aldous Torculas, Dikachi Ududo, Seven Gagate
ADDITIONS: Francis Nnoruka, Noy Remogat, Miguel Palanca, Miguel Yniguez
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DON'T look now, but the University of the Philippines is the most successful squad of this decade in UAAP men's basketball.
Since 2022, as the pandemic pressed pause on play in 2020-21, the Fighting Maroons have gotten two championships and two runner-up finishes. Without a doubt, that's a far cry from the so-called dark days when they were used to one-win or even winless campaigns.
But in the climb out of the darkness and march forward into glory, State U has made quite a few enemies along the way - and UAAP Season 88 will see it experiencing having the most number of targets on its back it has ever had.
Of course, being the defending champion, being the hunted instead of the hunter is already expected, with La Salle - champion then runner-up in the last two seasons - being the most motivated to get its lick back.
But UP may very well also feel the heat coming from teams with whom they share quite a bit of history with as of late due to transfers. There's National University because of Janjan Felicilda, Reyland Torres, and Migs Palanca. There's University of the East because of Gani Stevens, Rey Remogat, and Rain Maga. There's Far Eastern University because of Veejay Pre. We can even include University of Santo Tomas which witnessed its homegrown product and then-captain CJ Cansino get pushed way east of Espana.
Truth be told, outside Diliman and the school's seven other constituent units, as well as wherever its alumni are, it'd be a challenge to find those rooting for a repeat.
All in all, more than ever for the Fighting Maroons, it's us against the world. It's UP against the world.
"Every season naman, we always approach it na ibigay namin lahat nang makakaya to achieve yung goal. Just every day, working hard para mag-improve pa. It doesn't matter kung anong isipin ng iba, basta kami, lalaban kami," coach Goldwin Monteverde told SPIN.ph.
Songs about main men
Funnily enough, this actually looks like the most lovable maroon-and-green lineup in these golden and winning days.
It was fun to root for the underdogs when they were led by the likes of Mo Gingerich and Jett Manuel. Or perhaps you prefer the on-the-way-up teams featuring Paul Desiderio, Bright Akhuetie, and Gomez de Liano brothers Javi and Juan. The championship crews spearheaded by Carl Tamayo and JD Cagulangan are already school legends, for sure.
But there's just something that catches your eye and captures your heart about this version of UP fronted by the 'Maroon 5' of Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Felicilda, and Torres.
This handful of players worked their way from humble beginnings - Abadiano from Iloilo, Alarcon from Bacolod, Felicilda and Torres patiently waiting for their shot in Metro Manila, and Fortea… well, Terrence was always seen as a tantalizing talent.
Still, until now in their final year, they continue to work hard, as all of these guards are ready and raring to fill the void on and off the court of one Cagulangan.
When you think about it, because all eyes are on the Green Archers with their influx of talent or on the Growling Tigers who are going all-in for Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao's last season, are the Fighting Maroons… actually underdogs once more?
"It's never been about ibang tao. Yung motivation namin, galing sa sarili namin, sa loob namin, kung paano namin pagtutulong-tulungan yung goal namin. That in itself, bilang isang pamilya, motivation nang magtulungan," said Monteverde, very much on brand in not minding the outside noise.
All that matters for UP is to keep at it, led by the 'Maroon 5' who are all motivated to get a fitting end to their collegiate careers. Abadiano is already one of the best - if not the best - leaders in college, while also being a deadshot from midrange. Fortea is rounding back into the form that made him a killer scorer back from his days in Batang Gilas. Alarcon is a two-way force whose good looks never held him back para makipagpalitan ng mukha. And Felicilda and Torres are the very definition of glue guys who do anything and everything in their power to forward the fight.
For real, you may not have loved the Fighting Maroons' path to their two titles in four seasons, but who wouldn't love these five?
It won't be soon before long live the king
Beyond the 'Maroon 5,' you will find even more proud champions eager to prove that, hey, we may have lost Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez, but hey, everybody will still have to go through us to get to the mountaintop.
Concerns about a frontline that was dealt big blow after big blow with the departures of QMB, Lopez, and Aldous Torculas are merited, but 6-foot-9 Nigerian Francis Nnnoruka has shown in the preseason he's up to the task.
READ: This 6-9 Nigerian makes compelling case to be UP's new FSA
And on the topic of preseason, you know who the most consistent Fighting Maroon was then? Gani Stevens, the 6-7 Fil-Am banger taking the leap. Add to that young workhorse Palanca and sweet-shooting Miguel Yniguez and you get a solid, stable rotation of bigs - unproven, yes, but unfazed, as well.
"Very excited for Gani. Nakita ko paano siya nag-focus, especially this year nung nawala si Q, naging motivation sa kanya to work hard para tulungan yung team. Which he has been doing consistently from preseason, so hopefully, mag-carry over sa season," said their brilliant tactician.
"Si Francis naman, very promising. Kahit papaano, yung development niya, nakakasabay na siya. One thing good sa kanya, he always makes it a point to work with his teammates. Definitely, magiging key siya for our goal."
Then who's there to also help out in taking over for Cagulangan? Well, this is the perfect time to remind you of one Remogat who posted per game counts of 16.5 points, 7.9 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals for the Red Warriors in Season 86.
READ: Remogat turns cold shooting night into cool comeback for UP
The 5-10 Caviteno already channeled his inner JD in the Filoil Preseason, after all, as his late heroics shot down the erstwhile undefeated Green Archers in the semifinal.
Safe to say, talent still abounds here and putting all the pieces together is the cool, calm, and collected Monteverde, alongside longtime lieutenants such as Tom Chua and Christian Luanzon.
Monteverde's interviews, belying his name, will never be a goldmine, but he has proven he knows exactly what to say and do for his wards to reach their potential.
Now with two seniors titles to put beside his back-to-back championships in the juniors, he has become a real reason why young players want to go to UP, or just even think about it, in the first place.
Bottom line, the Fighting Maroons have all they need to take on all comers - be that their UAAP foes or the haters and non-believers who would take glee at any sort of misfortune that may come their way. For them, it's us against the world.
But world, just remember one thing: you come at the king, you best not miss.
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Bulldogs' big picture now crystal clear
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Red Warriors giving swag with fiery Gavina in charge
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
LA SALLE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Great expectations, meet Green Archers
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