They fight but rarely win. This time, it might be a different story.

 

The last championship title the UP Fighting Maroons held was way back in 1986 and the feeling of domination has since became just a memory. UP stayed in the cellar for the longest time, usually having one or no wins at all in an entire UAAP season.

 

Last Sunday, November 6, the Fighting Maroons exceeded expectations coming into the game with four wins- the most they had since Season 69, and gave hope to every Diliman faithful of having that chance to break into the prestigious Final Four once more.

 

The FilOil Flying V Centre was painted Maroon and a deafening cheering of “UP Fight!” rang throughout the arena. Iskos and Iskas were on their feet, hands held high up in the air in triumph. Every shot the team made against the struggling University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers earned a roaring cheer from the fans.

 

Following that momentum-building win against UST in their last game, UP improved their slate to 5-8. Coach Bo Perasol and the team tied the best win-loss record of Maroons since 2005 and has a chance to overtake it with one more game left.

 

The last time the State University (State U) qualified for the prestigious final four was back in 1997, but now they have kept their Final Four aspirations alive in Season 79.

 

True to their name, the Fighting Maroons have fought and won enough battles on the road for a chance to qualify for the Final Four this year, but the fight is not over. With three of the four slots already taken, the battle for the last spot grows more intense after every game.

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The top spot was secured by season favorite De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers (12-1), while defending champions Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws (8-3) booked the second slot. Handing DLSU their first loss of the season, the Ateneo de Manila (ADMU) Blue Eagles (7-4) grabbed a sure spot in the final four.

 

State U is currently competing for that last spot with two other universities. National University (NU) looks to bite their way to get back into the playoffs. The NU Bulldogs (5-8) lost five straight games at the start of the second round and are currently tied with UP at the fifth spot.

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The Adamson (AdU) Soaring Falcons (6-5) exceeded everybody’s expectations for the season and look  to soar straight into the Final Four. With eight rookies in the team, the Falcons are having a stellar season needing only one more win to get the final spot.

 

UP’s match against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors (2-10) on Sunday is a must win for State U to improve their record to 6-8.

 

In the event all conditions favor for UP, the Maroons will find themselves in a three-way tie with the Falcons and Bulldogs.

 

The Maroons have come a long way from being cellar dwellers in previous seasons, and that final spot would be the sweetest reward for the Diliman squad but some things are out of their hands.Whether or not they qualify for the Final Four spot or not, the Fighting Maroons have given their fans something greater- hope and pride.