After over two years of absence from the courts, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) returned for its 84th season, albeit under unprecedented circumstances.
With student-athletes in training bubbles, spectators initially barred from watching live and the number of competitions toned down, an intriguing season driven by uncertainty and anticipation has ran its course.
Our very own Fighting Maroons, once held within the confines of their own homes to study and train, took on the challenge of treading State U’s path to new sporting heights.
Sure enough, the fight within each atleta ng bayan ultimately prevailed.
Hardcourt royalty
A 36-year title drought for the university came to an end as the maroon-and-white seized the men’s basketball crown from their rival Ateneo Blue Eagles in a thrilling finish to this year’s finals.
READ: #AtinNa: UP seizes men’s basketball crown in thrilling finale
Rookie sensation JD Cagulangan landed the final blow at the buzzer to win Game 3 of the finals, 72-69, in overtime.
Individual accolades were in order for finals most valuable player Malick Diouf, and mythical five selections Zavier Lucero and Carl Tamayo, who was also hailed rookie of the year.
The UP Men’s Basketball Team bags their first UAAP seniors title in over three decades. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
State U reached the Final Four with a 12-2 record and dodged the stepladder format by handing the Blue Eagles their only loss in the elimination round.
READ: UP powers past Ateneo to block season sweep
In its return to the UAAP, the men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball tournaments were among the league’s season-ending showcases. Fresh off UP’s title-winning run in men’s basketball, State U’s 3×3 teams sought to replicate the UP MBT’s success in the sport this year.
(L to R) The team of Brix Ramos, AJ Madrigal, Gerry Abadiano and Harold Alarcon leads UP to a second straight bronze medal in the men’s 3×3 basketball tournament. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
Both teams narrowly missed out on the championship but equally clinched the bronze medal in their respective tournaments. The historic double podium finish for the Fighting Maroons saw the men’s team finish third for the second straight season and the women’s team claiming their first-ever top three placement in the competition.
(L to R) Podium debutants Stifanny Larrosa, Maian Domingo, Christie Bariquit and Acrissa Maw secure a third place finish for UP in the women’s 3×3 basketball tournament. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
Power moves
The maroon-and-white’s strategic prowess and high-flying brilliance were on full display in the last stretch of Season 84.
UP’s Jan Daryl Batula (left) caps off the team’s silver medal run with the rookie of the year distinction. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
The UP men’s chess team landed a silver medal finish with a 3.5-0.5 win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and a 26-point haul in the tournament.
On top of a triumphant podium finish, maroon woodpusher Jan Daryl Batula took home the prestigious rookie of the year distinction in the men’s division.
Meanwhile, the women’s chess team made a gallant stand for the maroon-and-white as they bagged 10.5 points to finish the two-week competition in sixth place.
UP’s Jarel Lacambra competes in the Battle of Katipunan against Ateneo de Manila University in the elimination round of the women’s chess tournament. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
From boards to mats, State U braved fierce competition to finish fourth overall in the poomsae competition.
The breathtaking display of the elite trio Joanna Jubelag, Adel Adriano and Alyssa Caabay earned UP a silver medal in the taekwondo team female finals to propel the Fighting Maroons’ bid in the overall championship.
Maroon Jins shine in their routine for the taekwondo team female semifinals. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
On top of the female team’s podium placement, the group of Joshua Cachero, Dominic Navarro and Datu Rayhan struck a fourth place result in the taekwondo team male finals to cap off an exceptional season for the maroon jins.
Maroon Jins stand out in their final routine for the taekwondo team male finals. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
Narrowly missing out on final placements in their respective events were Jona Castillo (individual female), Joshua Cachero (individual male) and duo Dominic Navarro and Joanna Jubelag (mixed pair).
Valiant aces
Despite persistent struggles in volleyball through the years, the Fighting Maroons battled it out with some of the league’s finest on the sands and in the court.
In the men’s beach volleyball tournament, the feisty pair of Daniel Nicolas and Louis Gamban rallied past the competition to finish third after the elimination round.
Maroon spikers Daniel Nicolas and Louis Gamban lead UP to a final four appearance in the men’s beach volleyball tournament. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
The maroon duo’s final four run was short-lived after losing to the eventual runners-up National University Bulldogs in straight sets, 21-12, 21-15, and ultimately securing fourth place in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball team endured another ill-fated season outside the top four, with a few notable bright spots in team captain Jewel Encarnacion and breakout star Alyssa Bertolano—the latest selection to the Philippine women’s volleyball national team player pool.
The UP Women’s Volleyball Team ends their campaign in sixth place in the women’s volleyball tournament. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
After the elimination round, Bertolano was the league’s fourth best scorer with 197 points, fourth best spiker with a 35.27% success rate and fifth best server with 0.31 aces per set.
Encarnacion finished 13th in scoring with 142 points and 10th in digging with 2.24 digs per set.
State U tallied a 5-9 record to take a sixth place finish for the second straight season. Moreover, the team’s competitive woes continue as they mark their fifth consecutive season without a final four appearance.
Meanwhile, the fabled history of the UP Pep Squad unwraps another short-handed chapter with a sixth place finish for the fourth straight season, scoring 582.5 points in this year’s cheerdance competition.
For their latest routine, the squad performed the greatest hits medley of Korean artist PSY.
The UP Pep Squad grooves to PSY’s greatest hits in the cheerdance competition. | Photo from UAAP Season 84 Media Team
The maroon-and-white last reached the podium as bronze medalists in Season 78—a year before boycotting the competition in 2016.
To cap off a remarkable season with incredible milestones and ceaseless opportunities, the Fighting Maroons amassed 71 points to secure fourth place in the UAAP general championship for the second year running—just five points behind third placer De La Salle University.
With a successful campaign in the books for UP, Season 84 proved to be a learning curve that marked a vital step forward for our student-athletes since their competitive hiatus in the pandemic.
State U seeks to carry over the strong momentum and build on their historic triumphs in UAAP Season 85, which is tentatively set to commence in the final quarter of 2022.
