Through three games, there’s been an air of dominance with the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
They’ve won their three games by a margin of at least 10 points, with their biggest win thus far coming against the NU Bulldogs. The Bulldogs led 1-0 on a Jake Figueroa free throw, but the Fighting Maroons used a 7-0 run to grab the lead for good. Everyone except Gani Stevens and Denzil Walker scored at least two points, with eight players scoring at least six points. The balanced UP offensive attack pushed the lead to as many as 39 points and put the Fighting Maroons in stride with the DLSU Green Archers for the top spot in the standings.
Even before Season 87 began, UP were labeled as the favorites to win it all, sharing the label with the Green Archers. In fact, the Fighting Maroons have appeared in four of the last five UAAP Finals, yet they only have one championship to show for it. That’s something that surely nags them given the resources and talent they have on the roster.

During the offseason, UAAP teams were on rebuilding mode after losing players either to graduation or to other teams. On their end, UP simply reloaded after their talent left, getting into an arms race with La Salle. Both teams were clearly retooling their rosters for one another, although it can also be said that the Fighting Maroons were taking a page out of DLSU’s book with their recruitment.
You can’t blame them for doing so since the results speak for themselves.
The Fighting Maroons are currently leading the UAAP in scoring (82.3 points per game), field goal percentage (45.9), 3-point shooting percentage (36.7 percent), assists (22.3 per game), and fastbreak points (13.7 per game). The new talent has certainly been helpful, but it’s the ones UP retained that continue to contribute to their cause.
JD Cagulangan has emerged as an early MVP candidate with his all-around play. Cagulangan has been in the league longer than most students have been in college, so he’s had all the opportunities to hone his game. There’s also a bit more pop in his step as he reportedly has a clean bill of health entering Season 87.
Mark Belmonte has flown under the radar compared to some of his teammates, but he has nonetheless been an effective contributor even during his rookie year last season. With the departure of Malick Diouf and CJ Cansino, Belmonte will be tasked with taking on more frontcourt minutes and against NU, he showed he’s not afraid to pounce on the opportunities given to him.
Francis Lopez remains a wild card for the Fighting Maroons. At his best, UP is pretty much unstoppable. When Lopez is struggling offensively, the Fighting Maroons may look at other options. It’s fine that Lopez is still finding his footing this early into Season 87, but they will need him when they take on the Green Archers and during the Final Four.
The UP Fighting Maroons have so far lived up to their billing as UAAP title contenders in Season 87. However, the real test will come in the succeeding games and the Fighting Maroons will use those contests to shed the “perennial bridesmaids” label that has hovered over them in recent years.
