Two cagers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons stood out loud and proud as they displayed State U’s excellence during the UAAP Season 87 collegiate basketball tournaments.
First-time recipients JD Cagulangan and Louna Ozar secured their spot in the elusive Mythical Five—a selection of the top five basketball players throughout the season—in the Men’s and Women’s basketball divisions, respectively.
JD-avid amidst Goliaths
UP Men’s Basketball Team’s (MBT) Cagulangan joins the elite selection in his final playing year for State U.
The 5-foot-9 standout point guard hailing from Butuan ranked third in the statistical race for the men’s division with 69.167 Statistical Points (SPs) in just 12 matches, averaging 11.75 points, 5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Cagulangan’s three-point shot during the Season 84 Finals Game 3 overtime brought the gold back to UP after 36 years of championship drought.

Completing the Mythical Five are De La Salle University’s (DLSU) Mike Phillips and back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao, Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Mohamed Konateh, and University of Santo Tomas’s (UST) Nic Cabanero.
FEU’s Veejay Pre was hailed Rookie of the Year for Season 87.
An Ozar-ian feat
Sophomore standout Louna Ozar from the UP Women’s Basketball Team (UP WBT) also seized the third spot in the MVP race for the women’s division.
The Filipino-French guard garnered 67.57 SPs, averaging 12 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game during her second playing year for State U.

Ozar is joined by Ateneo De Manila University’s (ADMU) back-to-back MVP Kacey Dela Rosa, UST’s Kent Pastrana, ADMU’s Sarah Makanjoula, and National University’s (NU) Angelica Surada.
NU’s Cielo Pagdulagan was named Rookie of the Year.
After seizing bronze last year, the UP WBT clinched fifth place in the women’s basketball tournament and hopes to bounce back in Season 88 with the impending return of former Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh, who sat out from this year’s campaign due to injury.
Meanwhile, the UP MBT aims to rewrite the narrative of bridesmaid finishes for two consecutive seasons as they face the defending champions DLSU Green Archers in a do-or-die Finals Game 3 this Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to reclaim the championship title.