NOWHERE to go but runner-up no more.
Still feeling the pain from back-to-back Game Three failures, the University of the Philippines finally got it done, outdueling Kevin Quiambao-led La Salle, 66-62, in the winner-take-all match on Sunday to claim the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball crown.
Twice denied in the last two years, the Fighting Maroons made sure that their path to the championship would finally be realized in front of a record-setting 25,248 in attendance at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Who better to bring back the trophy to Diliman than the hero who ended their 36-year wait back in 2022?
JD Cagulangan, brilliant all throughout the best-of-three series, was yet again in the driver's seat, as State U avenged its title loss to the very same Green Archers a year ago. He graduates with two rings on his hand, as he capped off his collegiate career with 12 points, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds.
Francis Lopez also more than made up for his Game Two miscues and drained a big three with 1:12 to play to give his side a 64-60 lead.
That was the biggest of his 12 points which also came with 11 rebounds and six assists. While he also committed nine turnovers, his energy and effort on defense, as well as big shot hushed online noise he was subjected to the last time around.
Quentin Millora-Brown then iced the game by canning both of his charities with 11.3 ticks left, completing his lone season in maroon-and-green with 14 points, 10 boards, and most importantly, the championship.
Defense wins UP championship
Defense was the difference-maker for UP, with its disciplined approach allowing it to cage La Salle, with the former frustrating the latter into 23 errors, as Gerry Abadiano spurred a 12-4 charge to take a 54-40 lead.
But the defending champions did not give up that easily, staging their own spirited 16-2 run behind Quiambao to tie the game at 56 with 9:21 to play.
However, the Green Archers left ample time for the Fighting Maroons to recover in the see-saw battle, first with Cagulangan draining a three that broke the 58-all tie, and then, the huge Lopez triple that allowed the Iskos to finally heave a huge sigh of relief.
There were no miracles this time on the side of La Salle, especially with back-to-back Season MVP Quiambao held to just 13 points and four rebounds.
Michael Phillips led the Taft side with 18 points, 12 boards, and two assists before fouling out late, as the Green Archers muffed numerous chances to close in after only going 12-of-28 from the free throw line.
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