Following heartbreaks in their UAAP Season 87 campaign, the University of the Philippines Women’s Basketball Team (UP WBT) is looking forward to a year of growth this Season 88.
After a historic bronze medal finish in 2023, the Fighting Maroons took a huge fall from grace in last year’s 5×5 journey marred with injuries and close calls, slipping to a fifth-place exit just one step shy of a podium defense.
Composed of Achrissa Maw, Kaye Pesquera, Christie Bariquit, Louna Ozar, and reserve Yel Vingno, the Diliman-based squad concluded the 3×3 division of the tournament by moving up two spots from their sixth-place finish in Season 86. While they ultimately fell short of a podium finish, the tournament left the team wanting more.
Maw admitted she was not fully satisfied with the team’s performance. “Walang silbi ang fourth para sa akin kahit proud ako sa teammates ko. Gusto naming lahat mag-podium,” she said.
Maw attempts a reverse layup with Bariquit ready for a possible rebound against the UST Tigers. Photo from the UAAP Season 87 Media Team.
Pesquera echoed the sentiment, saying, “We know our standards. Lahat kami capable. That’s why fourth place doesn’t feel like enough.”
“We’re bouncing back,” said Ozar. “It’s frustrating to be just one step below the podium, but now I believe: We can get the championship. We just need to be consistent.”
Change of pace
Fast forward to 2025, the Fighting Maroons have been on a nonstop grind in preparation for a redemption run for Season 88.
During the pre-season, UP WBT played in countless tune-ups and tournaments, even crossing international waters for the first time during the 2025 BLIA Cup University Basketball Invitational Tournament in Taiwan last July, where they represented the Philippines alongside defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs.
For captain Shanina Tapawan, their preparations have shifted the team’s perspective on one major factor: the size difference.
“It’s not all about height,” said the Cavite-native skipper.
The squad will enter its second consecutive season without a foreign-student athlete (FSA) with the departure of Season 86 Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh to play overseas.
Instead of seeing this as a drawback, the team responded to the challenge by amping up the pace and using speed as its primary weapon.
UP WBT center Shanina Tapawan returns as the team captain for her final playing year. Photo from UAAP Media Team.
The skipper shared her encounter with this playstyle firsthand, which played out during their match against Japan Women’s College of Physical Education in Taiwan.
“[K]ahit mas matangkad kami, maliit sila, wala ‘yong height, puso ‘yong laruan. ‘Yon ‘yong finocus namin after namin makabalik [from overseas] sa pre-season.”
UP WBT center Achrissa Maw in action during UAAP Season 86. Photo from UAAP Media Team.
Co-captain Maw echoed the changes, citing the change in game plan dwells with the team’s strengths.
“Nagshift ‘yong mindset namin na, “Hindi, kahit wala tayong import, okay, play together, ready si coach ng system na sa-swak sa amin,” the 24-year-old center said.
While adapting a new playstyle, the seniors doubled down on leading the team with a creed etched in the squad ever since they were newcomers: Hard work always pays off.
“Greatness is not given. Kailangan namin ‘yan i-earn,” said Tapawan.
With the likes of AJ Castro bannering the seven new cagers of the team’s rookie-laden roster, the seniors emphasized instilling this culture among the new batch of players.
“Pinapakita namin sa rookies na walang seniority. … Kung ikaw ‘yong nasa lineup, magtatrabaho, makikipagdikdikan ka talaga,” said Maw. “Hindi porket kami ‘yong matanda kami ay kami ‘yong [bibigyan] ng heavy minutes. Sabi nga ni coach, kailangan nila mag-step up.”
But despite the gap in their experience at the UAAP, the seniors have remained on even ground with the team on and off the courts.
“Kahit mga captains kami, mga seniors kami, nandoon pa rin ‘yong bond namin sa mga rookies,” said Tapawan. “[P]ara pa rin kaming mga bata.”
As Season 88 fast approaches, the 16-woman collective is on a mission to bring the UP hopefuls back into the Final Four. But to get there, the squad looks to do it one game at a time.
“Be in the moment. ‘Di pwedeng one step ahead ka na gusto mo nga ‘yong Final Four [pero] hindi mo naman ginagawa nang tama ‘yong game na ‘yon,” Tapawan said.
Maw voiced the same sentiments, stressing the squad’s mindset on the court: Play like it’s your last game.
Tapawan, meanwhile, cracked a banter about what the UP community could expect from the team, especially from her co-captain.
“[K]ung anong maaalala [ng tao] kay Maw? ‘Achrissa Ma-maw,’” the captain said in jest.
The UP WBT begins its ascent to the top of Season 88 on Wednesday, Sept. 24, starting on a head-to-head with the Adamson Lady Falcons at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
