With the loss of the DLSU Green Archers, there is only one undefeated team in the second round of UAAP Season 89: the UP Fighting Maroons. 

The Maroons also have the distinction of having the longest active winning streak for Season 89, one that began near the end of the first round. It’s a far cry from the 2-2 start that may have elicited some panic, which at this point is now a mere footnote. 

However, the streak was not without its cardiac moments such as those from UP’s first-round encounter with the then-winless UE Red Warriors and the double-overtime thriller against the UST Growling Tigers in the second round. But then, there were statement wins such as that against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.  

The Blue Eagles raced to an early 16-4 lead and their efforts had the makings of an early upset. But the Maroons quickly erased any notions of that. UP has relied on various players for much of Season 89 and this time, it was Elliot Dimaculangan who managed to step up when his team needed him the most. 

For a team that lost its core group responsible for five straight UAAP Finals appearances and two championships, the Maroons’ transition to a new group has overall been handled well. Of course, it helps that some of the current members of the roster have been with the team for quite some time, but taking on bigger roles has never been easy. Perfection is obviously what they aim for, but the production from the likes of Veejay Pre, Rey Remogat, and even Gani Stevens has been uneven. However, they have shown up when UP needed them the most. 

It has translated to the Maroons having the league’s best offense, scoring the most points per game (85.2) and doing so with 3-point shooting (32.9 percent, which is the best in the UAAP) and a habit of frequently getting to the free throw line (league-best 189 makes on a UAAP-leading 281 free throw attempts). 

Defensively, teams struggle to score efficiently against UP, as their opponents have shot 38.5 percent from the field, which is the second-best mark in the UAAP. It’s a team effort, one that has helped them win close games at the expense of the stress levels of their fans. 

Nonetheless, all signs point to one thing: the Maroons are ready for the Final Four, a stage they qualified after dispatching Ateneo. Their upcoming games against the FEU Tamaraws this upcoming Saturday and against the Green Archers and the NU Bulldogs are not just their toughest challenges ahead; they could very well be opportunities to secure the twice-to-beat advantage and the top seed heading into the Final Four. 

The momentum is there for the UP Fighting Maroons and so is the capability to carry on a program that is pretty much dynastic already. All that’s left is to finish the job.