For much of UAAP Season 88, the UP Fighting Maroons’ backcourt has been holding things down. Through their first 10 games, the Fighting Maroons’ backcourt of Harold Alarcon, Rey Remogat, and Gerry Abadiano has been averaging a combined 34.7 points per game, a little more than half of UP’s 76.1 points per game. 

Game 11 of Season 88, however, saw the Fighting Maroons being led by a trio that stood tall. 

Francis, Nnoruka, Sean Alter, and Gani Stevens accounted for nearly half of UP’s 70 points and imposed their will on a helpless UE Red Warrior frontcourt. They were relentless on the boards and because of their efforts, the Fighting Maroons were able to get 14 second-chance points off 12 offensive rebounds. Nnoruka, Alter, and Stevens were also integral to UP’s overall offensive rhythm, as they set hard screens and did their part in moving the ball around until a better shot was found. 

Defensively, Alter was able to live up to his name in protecting the paint, while Nnoruka was part of the reason why Precious Momowei had as many points (four) as fouls. The Red Warriors had to think twice before attacking the basket and this proved costly as it led to some of their 20 turnovers and a field-goal percentage below 30.

The 70-61 victory not only distanced the Fighting Maroons from the logjam for the last two Final Four spots, but it also gave their frontcourt the confidence moving forward. UP’s frontcourt was one of their weaknesses, as the DLSU Green Archers, NU Bulldogs, and the UST Growling Tigers had loaded frontcourts that tested UP’s big men. 

The Fighting Maroons’ offense is largely led by its backcourt in part because of their ability to harness the midrange game, but also because of the championship experience they have gained over the years. That being said, opposing teams know who to focus on, whether that’s putting more pressure on the backcourt or forcing the more inexperienced frontcourt to make mistakes. But Stevens, Nnoruka, and Alter continued to put the work in and in doing so, they have been able to make the most out of their time on the court.  

With three games left before the end of the UAAP Season 88 preliminary round, the UP frontcourt could very well be peaking at the right time. They weren’t pushovers, but they certainly weren’t tough to outplay early on. It seems they needed time to settle into their new roles, especially with the departures of Francis Lopez and Quentin Millora-Brown, both of whom provided valuable contributions to the Fighting Maroons’ title run in Season 87. Grabbing rebounds, playing defense, and chipping in on offense are simple tasks in themselves, but when done over time, they can lead to wins and hopefully, championships for UP. 

It might be too much to expect the UP Fighting Maroons frontcourt to churn out huge performances until the end, but expect them to play their roles to a tee. The comments section was rife with how the Fighting Maroons were playing against a winless UE Red Warrior squad, but the games must still be played and the frontcourt has shown they’re ready to take on whoever is in front of them. And with the way they’re playing, it might be their opponents who could be in for a long night.