University of the Philippines’ basketball programs stood dominant in the beginning of the UAAP Season 86 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. 

Both Fighting Maroon squads are off to their respective dream starts of 4-0 in the first round of the competition. 

Season 85 finalists UP men’s team survived Far Eastern University Tamaraws in overtime, 80-76, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, anchored by its rookies Janjan Felicilda and Francis Lopez –– further proving a promising future for the Fighting Maroons. 

With the firepower of reigning MVP and foreign student-athlete Malick Diouf, UP is expected to make its fifth straight Final Four appearance and continue its revenge tour in the season.

“Both programs have been there. This team was not worth watching, talking about the men’s team same thing with the women’s team. It just goes to show ‘yong program ng community as a whole. Not only in one like the men’s team, even the women’s team, even in volleyball. ‘Yong strides for improvement nakita natin before mag-start iyong UAAP even the coverage nag-improve rin. Giving more exposure sa women’s,” said UP men’s assistant coach Christian Luanzo. 

Interestingly, even the long-struggling women’s side program has picked up as the Fighting Maroons remained as the only unbeaten team in the division. 

UP women’s squad handed eight-peat-seeking National University Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the season last week with a 72-69 victory before escaping FEU Lady Tamaraws, 64-61, on the same day as the men’s side.

Gilas women’s Louna Ozar showed the way for the Fighting Maroons in their recent victory.

But it was another import in Favour Onoh that led the way for UP in its favorable win over defending champion NU last week. 

The perfect records spoke of the school's commitment not to leave any program behind.