AHEAD of the stepladder semifinal between the UP Fighting Maroons and UST Growling Tigers on Sunday, OPM artist Johnoy Danao showed his school spirit by doing what he does best.
The University of the Philippines alum and basketball fan recently did a heartfelt stripped-down version of their school hymn "UP Naming Mahal."
The Facebook page of the UP Men's Basketball Team shared Johnoy's rendition on Thursday, but took it to the next level and added a compilation of clips featuring staunch Fighting Maroons supporters.
"After all these years, ngayon ko lang siya ("UP Naming Mahal") inaral tugtugin sa gitara," Johnoy told SPIN Life, adding that the first thing that came to mind was the men's dormitory Narra Residence Hall. "Just trying to sing it as honest as I can."
The singer-songwriter behind "Ikaw At Ako" and "Dapithapon" described UP's official anthem by Nicanor Abelardo as "one of the best love songs ever composed and written."
The twice-to-beat Fighting Maroons will face UST the chance to exact revenge on the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 82 Finals. Johnoy, who watched the likes of Paolo Mendoza and the late Bryan Gahol as a student, welcomes UP's newfound competitiveness.
"Pakiramdam ko naghilom na ang mga sugat namin," he said. "Eto ang kagandahan, manalo o matalo, mahal namin ang UP MBT."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
