The UP Fighting Maroons of today bear almost no resemblance to what they were a decade ago.

You’d have to count every victory of theirs from 2009 to 2015—seven full seasons—just to match the 10 wins that they’ve recorded in 2025 alone.

Now, UP has won two of the last four UAAP titles and enters this year’s Final Four with a 10–4 record. They’ve earned the second seed and the customary twice-to-beat advantage that comes with it. The Fighting Maroons are only one win away from a fifth straight finals appearance which is an unprecedented run for this once moribund program.

The UP fanbase has traded in their self-deprecating jokes for a well-deserved air of confidence in recent years. Their supporters have swelled from a handful of diehard students and alumni into a rabid group—whether they like it or not—that is fronted by swaggering politician(s) and influential businesspeople sitting courtside. They are no longer a “Plan B” for recruits looking for more playing time, but instead an aggressive suitor of other teams’ best players.

Today’s UP community is no longer just happy with wins–they want nothing less than the championship. They are already the reigning UAAP champions and are in a prime position to win back-to-back titles for the first time in history.

As it stands, the Fighting Maroons are only three wins away from winning back-to-back titles, though they will have to fight tooth and nail for that crucial first victory. UP is matched up with the feisty UST Growling Tigers in the Final Four for the second consecutive season and these two teams split their season series in UAAP 88.

UST won their first meeting–the opener for both teams–in dominant fashion, blowing out the Fighting Maroons by 20, 87-67. The game was the first one of rookie Collins Akowe at the Seniors level and he put on a show, scoring 29 points and 17 rebounds for the Growling Tigers in one of the most memorable debuts in recent history. 

However, UP bounced back in the second round. They took a hard-fought 89-88 win over the Growling Tigers after Harold Alarcon hit the go-ahead shot with 22 seconds left to play that capped off a 22-point performance.

All indications are that these two teams are at par with one another and, all things considered, a pair of wins from UST would only be considered an upset because of how they are ranked in the standings. In terms of quality, these two teams are on equal footing and this sets up what could potentially be a classic Final Four series. 

What makes this match-up even more interesting is the contrast of their rosters. The Fighting Maroons bank on their elite depth to churn out wins as they consistently use a 12-man rotation. They boast of a league-high number of players (5) averaging at least eight points per game which includes a pair of elite closers with championship experience in Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano.

Meanwhile, the Growling Tigers rely on a top-heavy attack that is spearheaded by seniors Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao together with Akowe and third-year forward Gelo Crisostomo. UST needs these four to be at their best if they are to keep up with UP and if their recent form is any indication, they should be up for the challenge.

The margins in this upcoming battle are going to be razor thin and the deciding factor might ultimately come down to the finest of details. In the end, one stop, one shot, or even just one loose ball might be what decides whether UP continues to build on its dynasty or if UST can spoil the party.

The Fighting Maroons have come a long way in a decade, emerging as the league’s premier program in the post-pandemic era. Another Finals appearance would cement that status—but first they must tame a formidable foe in the Growling Tigers.