Revenge-seeking University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are now just one win away from securing their fourth University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball championship after a hard-fought 73-65 victory over the defending champion De La Salle University Green Archers in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series at the jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.
The Maroons spent most of the first half trailing La Salle, as the Green Archers surged ahead, largely behind the offensive brilliance of presumptive UAAP Season 87 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao. The Korea-bound Quiambao exploded for 14 of his 18 first-half points in the second quarter, keeping La Salle in control.
However, UP guard Joel Diomar “JD” Cagulangan played a pivotal role in keeping his team within striking distance, contributing 9 points during the second quarter, including a crucial technical free throw. Cagulangan, who made history in the UAAP Season 85 finals with a game-winning three-pointer in overtime against Ateneo, showed his composure and scoring ability once again. That iconic shot led UP to its third UAAP title, and Cagulangan will look to replicate that heroism in Game 2, which is set to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena—where the Maroons’ championship dreams were realized just two years ago.
At halftime, UP trailed 37-41, but came out of the locker room with renewed intensity. The Maroons locked down defensively, limiting Quiambao to a single point—a technical free throw—until the 4:39 mark of the fourth quarter. UP held La Salle scoreless for nearly seven minutes during the third period, going on an 8-0 run to take a 54-50 lead heading into the final quarter.In the fourth, UP center Quentin Millora-Brown proved dominant in the paint, completing two three-point plays and adding another easy basket to push the Maroons ahead by as much as 11 points, 65-54. But it was Francis Lopez’s relentless drives to the basket and game-changing chase-down blocks that earned him the Best Player of the Game honors.
Despite La Salle’s struggles, Quiambao, who is set to join the Korean Basketball League after the UAAP Finals, will lead the Green Archers into Game 2, hoping to force a decisive third game on Sunday. La Salle wrested the collegiate basketball crown from UP last year. With the stakes higher than ever, Game 2 promises to be a thrilling continuation of this championship series.
