THE University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons made a bold statement on Wednesday, handing the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles their first defeat of UAAP Season 88.
No longer unbeaten, the top-seeded Ateneo was stunned by defending champion UP, 83-69, in the highly anticipated ‘Battle of Katipunan’ held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
From the get-go, UP imposed its will on both ends of the floor, playing with poise, urgency, and purpose. The Fighting Maroons consistently pushed the pace and disrupted Ateneo’s rhythm throughout the game.
Finding it difficult to match UP’s relentless energy, Ateneo spent most of the game playing catch-up. As the Fighting Maroons tightened their grip, the Blue Eagles simply had no response.
A Katipunan Classic
True to the hype, the Battle of Katipunan tipped off with intensity, as both teams looked to set the tone early and gain separation. Determined to defend their crown, the Fighting Maroons came out aggressive and locked in.
Gerry Abadiano got UP going with a corner triple that sparked a 7-2 start. Still, Ateneo remained composed, responding quickly and keeping the gap close at 18-17 to end the opening quarter.
The Blue Eagles found a brief spark in the second, starting with Shawn Tuano scoring on the first play. Kymani Ladi followed with a big three to give Ateneo a 30-23 edge midway through the period.
But the surge was short-lived, as Harold Alarcon caught fire and took over. The crafty guard tallied 13 points in the quarter, carrying UP back into the lead, 40-38, by the halftime break.
Championship DNA
UP turned it up another notch in the third quarter, showing why they’re known for their strong second-half execution. Coming out of the dugout with energy, they dictated the tempo and imposed their will.
Francis Nnoruka went to work in the paint, exploiting Ateneo’s interior defense to rack up 15 points. Rey Remogat added to the onslaught, dropping seven points—all within the same quarter.
That dominant stretch gave the Maroons a commanding 64-49 cushion entering the final period, allowing them to cruise to their fifth straight win in this rivalry, dating back to Season 86’s second round.
The win also marked UP’s third consecutive victory, improving their record to 3-2 and claiming solo fourth. Meanwhile, Ateneo slipped to 4-1, now sharing the top spot with the NU Bulldogs.
Ready for the Moment
Understanding the magnitude of the bout, UP showed up locked in — evident in Nnoruka’s monster outing of 28 points, nine boards, four steals, and a block, alongside Remogat’s all-around line of 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
Beyond their signature pesky defense — which has become their calling card this season — it was their ability to make in-game adjustments and execute them flawlessly that proved crucial in securing this statement win.
“For me, ‘yung preparation namin for this game it’s just one part of it. But transferring it to play, the players executing our offense, ‘yun ang malaking pagbabago namin,” UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said.
“We started well naman. ‘Yung mga galing sa bench lang wanted to sustain how we started and we focused on lapses that we needed to address, especially composure-wise. Kumbaga, mas na-handle namin yun nang mas mabuti nung third [quarter],” he added.
Onto the Next
In a losing effort, Shawn Tuano led Ateneo with 17 points, while Kymani Ladi added 15 of his own. Missing in action, however, was Dominic Escobar — a key contributor in their win over the DLSU Green Archers — whose quiet night may have made the difference.
With the loss, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will head back to the drawing board as they prepare to take on the UST Growling Tigers — the final opponent in their three-game stretch against tough contenders — this Saturday on their home floor in Katipunan.
As for the UP Fighting Maroons, they’ll look to carry their growing momentum into Sunday’s matchup against the FEU Tamaraws, aiming to extend their win streak to four at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
