UP Fighting Maroons celebrate after beating the La Salle Green Archers in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. —Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — There has never been a lack of motivation on the part of University of the Philippines (UP) to reclaim the UAAP men’s basketball championship—starting from Finals losses the last two seasons and that Game 2 meltdown just four nights ago.
“From the start of this season, after we lost last year, every day they worked for it,” UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said, minutes after the final buzzer of a 66-62 Game 3 victory over La Salle sounded on Sunday night that had the Fighting Maroons returning to glory in front of a collegiate basketball game record of 25,248 screaming souls at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: UP hero JD Cagulangan ends stint with UAAP Finals MVP award
Peza Director General Tereso Panga and PNOC President and Chief Executive Officer Oliver Butalid signed a memorandum of understanding last October 14 at the PNOC Networking Hall.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) said that it, along with dealer partner SJ Legacy Motors Inc., inaugurated their new branch at the SM City San Jose Del Monte on Sept. 27.
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS After UAAP Finals heartbreak, Kevin Quiambao mum on future SPORTS UP outlasts La Salle in Game 3 to reclaim UAAP men's basketball title SPORTS PBA: Hong Kong Eastern escapes exhausted Ginebra“I am very thankful, especially to the young (players),” he added. “Even during the course of the season, [during] our ups and downs [they continued working]. I’m very proud of each and everyone in our team.”
Francis Lopez, the heel why the Maroons failed to wrap it up last Wednesday, redeemed himself in a huge way. The athletic forward drained the triple that extinguished the last of the defending champion Green Archers’ fightbacks, 64-60, on the way to finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
casino slot machineArticle continues after this advertisement“From my teammates and coaches, I wanna first of all thank them for still believing in me after the Game 2 loss,” Lopez, who missed four charities and had a crucial blunder in the stretch the last time, said. “It was really a huge loss, especially for me.
Article continues after this advertisement“I let the team down in that game, but [that pushed me] to work on my shots, work on my confidence and I am just really happy,” he went on. “It’s a surreal feeling, and this is my first time officially to win a championship in my entire life.”
Article continues after this advertisementUP did not crumble down the stretch this time and played out a disciplined offense that kept the Archers within arm’s length.
Quentin Millora-Brown, the one-and-done big man recruited for inside muscle, hit two free throws to round out scoring and ignite a crazy celebration in the stands among the UP faithful.
Article continues after this advertisement“It’s amazing to be able to end our season with a (championship),” Millora-Brown said. “So few people can say that they ended their season on a win and it’s just something that I’ll always look back at and smile.”
The other cog on his way out of Diliman after this season, point guard JD Cagulangan, also had a huge hand in the win, finishing with 12 points before being named the Finals MVP.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and storieshondawin, visit Inquirer Varsity.
READ NEXT Maroons back as UAAP hoops kings NU Lady Bulldogs have chance to start another reign of supremacy EDITORS' PICK PBA: Hong Kong Eastern escapes exhausted Ginebra World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks Yoon Suk Yeol impeached: Who could be South Korea’s next leader? 1-Pacman’s 2nd nominee Bobby Pacquiao puts public service first Ex-usec: Akap still susceptible to ‘politicking’ MOST READ PH, US air forces hold drill off Pacific coast Jamela Villanueva goes cryptic after Maris Racal-Anthony Jennings exposé SOS Network asks VP Duterte to explain use of confidential funds Acop to Dela Rosa: Rebut report with proof, not theatrics Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments