Mainstays and newcomers alike shone for the University of the Philippines Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams as they took on Adamson University last Sept. 25 inside the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The squads left the España complex in contrasting paths as the men’s squad absorbed their second loss of the season while their women’s counterparts arranged a successful debut in the Season 88 hardcourt.
Rising UP to the call
The UP Women’s Basketball Team (WBT) set the tone early, with an opening match to remember — one that could define the fate of their Season 88 campaign.
The women’s team stood tall as the men’s team endured another tough loss early on in the season. With chins up, fists raised, they sang UP Naming Mahal with pride after delivering a season-opening victory that was nothing short of a redemption statement.
The Lady Maroons’ victory over last year’s podium finishers, Adamson Lady Falcons, ended their two-game losing streak against the San Marcelino-based squad, dating back to Round 1 of Season 87.
In Season 86, UP WBT finished third, but the Lady Falcons claimed the bronze medal in Season 87, pushing UP off the podium.
Losing key players in the lineup, the team added seven new rookies to its 16-woman roster, who made a remarkable impact in their UAAP debut.
READ: UP WBT vows payback after harrowing Season 87 exits – Tinig ng Plaridel
Four of the seven newcomers saw action on the court against Adamson, actively stepping up to keep pace against a well-established Lady Falcons squad, with only two rookies added to its Season 88 roster.
Standing 5-foot-9, Shane Cunanan led the scoring for the newcomers in their debut, contributing seven points in the match, while forward Mary Cris Mejasco chipped in four.
Guard AJ Castro added three points, and Rachel Evangelista played a key role on defense with two rebounds, one assist and a steal.
Fresh from their Gilas Pilipinas stint, sophomores Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco topscored the Diliman-based squad, scoring 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Fighting Maroons dominated the first half, taking advantage of Adamson’s defensive lapses to build a comfortable 17-point lead, their largest of the match, at 31-14.
The San Marcelino-based squad fought back in the second half, outscoring UP in the final two quarters as Elaine Etang erupted with 11 points out of her 17 total to keep the Lady Falcons in the game.
However, it wasn’t enough to steal the lead, as Ozar sank crucial free throws and clutch three-pointers in the remaining seconds to secure the maroon jerseys’ first win of the season, 66-63.
The Fighting Maroons’ triumph not only marks a strong start but also sets the tone for a promising season ahead. With a balanced mix of fresh talents and seasoned players, UP WBT has shown that they’re ready to compete at the highest level and aim for a return to the podium.
Step-UP required
But it was a different story for the UP Men’s Basketball Team (MBT). A breakthrough win eluded its hands in the final moments of a heart-stopping 59-62 slugfest against the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
State U slid to a 0-2 win-loss slate, their worst starting record since 2016, when they dropped three consecutive games to kick off Season 79.
This also marked their third consecutive loss inside the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, rendering them winless in the venue since 2024.
Team captain Gerry Abadiano spearheaded the gallant stand, putting up 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, while mainstays Harold Alarcon and Gani Stevens fired 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, former UPIS standout Ray Allen Torres led the Falcon flock in the clutch, putting up five of his 10 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning basket.
After two games, much is now expected for the freshmen of the tenured State U squad, who are slowly answering the call.
Newcomers Francis Nnoruka and Miguel Palanca proved steady for the Fighting Maroons, with the big man notching eight points and eight boards while Palanca chipped in four markers from the free throw line.
However, struggles continued for other rookies donning the Maroon uniform, notably former Mythical Five guard Rey Remogat, who went scoreless in 20 minutes of play.
Misses from the charity stripe proved too costly for the Diliman-based squad, with UP only converting 21 from their 36 free throw attempts in the nip-and-tuck showdown.
After a tightly-contested opening half, Abadiano extinguished an early spark from the Falcons in the third frame, bursting with a personal 7-0 scoring spree to bring the game into a deadlock, 32-all.
Back-to-back hits from Nnoruka kept the gap close, 38-40, before the San Marcelino squad took flight with a 6-1 run to drag the Diliman–based crew into a seven-point disadvantage heading to the closer.
As the deficit reached its biggest at ten during the start of the payoff period, Gani Stevens and Harold Alarcon came alive for the State U offense, firing eight straight markers to trim the deficit to two, 47-49, halfway into the fourth.
Treys from Emmanuel Anabo and Matthew Montebon were nullified as the Maroons fought back with a 12-2 run, with Alarcon cutting to the basket to tie the game at 59-all with 20 seconds left.
However, disaster struck in the dying seconds as Adamson’s Torres sank a dagger beyond the arc to sever the hopes of a Maroon comeback.
Both teams will continue their pursuit for a hot start as they face the University of the East (UE) Lady and Red Warriors on Sunday, Sept. 28, with UP WBT hitting the big dome at 12 p.m., while UP MBT looks to arrest their skid on 2 p.m. at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
