1939. 1986. 2022.
After 36 years, the long wait is over as the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons capture the men’s basketball championship over the mighty Ateneo Blue Eagles, 72-69, in Game 3 of the finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 13.
In their last clash for the title, the maroon shirts started strong on both ends of the floor as the reigning champions struggled to find their winning rhythm early on. State U established a strong six-point lead in the opening frame, 17-11.
Ateneo responded with their lethal shooting consistency to inch closer to UP’s early advantage. But Malick Diouf kept State U in the driver’s seat with 12 big points in the first half as the maroons held on to a 31-27 lead.
With their backs against the wall, the Blue Eagles soared to a 20-point outburst in the third quarter to enter the closing stretch with a one-point edge over the Fighting Maroons.
UP’s fight grew stronger as they retook control of the game midway through the final frame. In the final moments, State U’s six-point lead was quickly overturned by a nine-point Ateneo run to steal the lead with 56 seconds left, 59-56.
In his first taste of playoff action after a knee injury, CJ Cansino landed a crucial three-point shot to tie the game at 59-all. A chaotic sequence on both ends failed to deliver a breakthrough shot which forced the title-deciding third game to overtime.
The defending champions wasted no time in the five-minute extension as captain Gian Mamuyac and leading scorer SJ Belangel propelled Ateneo to a five-point lead with two minutes to spare, 69-64.
UP’s eventual hero, JD Cagulangan, dropped a pivotal three-pointer and an important assist to Diouf to bring the game back to level terms at 69-all.
What followed in the final play of the match was a moment that will forever be etched in UAAP history—a cold-blooded three-pointer by Cagulangan to win UP its first league title in over three decades.
JD Cagulangan hits a three-point shot in the final seconds of Game 3 to lead UP to the men’s basketball title over the Ateneo Blue Eagles. | Photo from UAAP Media
Cagulangan, the newest hero for the Fighting Maroons, racked up 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals alongside Cansino’s 14 points in his return.
Diouf, who was crowned finals MVP, led UP’s title-winning charge with 17 points, nine rebounds and three steals. In the championship series, he averaged 12.3 rebounds, 11.7 points, 2.7 steals, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block.
Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde was overcome with emotions as UP took home the men’s basketball championship in a hard-fought season.
“There’s no words to express what I’m feeling right now. Kung makikita niyo lang loob ng puso ko ngayon, sobrang saya ko talaga,” Monteverde said.
After a historic eight-game win streak, a second place finish in the elimination round and three come-from-behind wins in the playoffs, the Fighting Maroons close another season to remember for the maroon-and-white faithful.
But this time, with a touch of gold.
QUARTER SCORES: 17-11, 31-27, 46-47, 59-59, 72-69
