Redemption was the sole battlecry of the gladiators from the UAAP and NCAA, with the teams raging war to reclaim what was once their possession or finally get a taste of a long lost glory in the big stage.

Playing in the two of the country’s biggest collegiate leagues, the Fighting Maroons and the Cardinals used the lessons of the past to traverse the path toward greatness.

Challenges were aplenty but adversities truly built toughness. At the end, it was clear: patience is a virtue.
 

Drawing strength from heartbreaks

After its historic championship that broke its 36-year title drought in UAAP Season 84, UP took heavy blows in the following years, enduring two straight title defeats that tore apart veteran guard JD Cagulangan.

Cagulangan, along with mainstays Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea and Janjan Felicilda, watched as Ateneo and La Salle hoisted the trophy in the finals, a painful image they put vividly into their memories.

UP, which finished second in elims with a 11-3 card in Season 87, drew strength from its failed attempts to regain its footing against the heavy favorite La Salle Green Archers, who were then led by back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao. Before entering the finale, UP beat UST, 78-69, in the semifinal.

Though it bowed to the Taft-based squad twice in the preliminaries, the State U pulled off a shocker in the opener with a 73-65 win. With much momentum on its side, UP fell prey to crucial turnovers and missed free throws which DLSU took advantage of toward a 76-75 victory.

Like a deja vu, La Salle and UP disputed the UAAP crown in a rubber match where Cagulangan, Francis Lopez and Quentin Millora-Brown rose to the occasion and steadied the Maroons’ ship in the payoff period. Their collective efforts outshone Quiambao and Mike Phillips to bring back the title to Diliman, 66-62.

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde was glad to finally solve the puzzle that is Topex Robinson and his feisty La Salle squad.

“Very thankful ako especially sa mga bata, na you know, from the start ng season after namin matalo last year [and] araw-araw, tinatrabaho nila, how they worked hard for it,” said Monteverde. “Even during the course of the season, ‘yung ups and downs namin, I’m very proud of each and everyone sa team namin

“Thankful ako sa coaching staff na wala ring tigil, pag wala sila, di ko rin magagawa ‘yong dapat kong gawin,” he added.

With their victory, Cagulangan had a fitting farewell to UP with a Finals MVP plum before taking his talent to the Korean pro league along with Quiambao.

“Sobrang sarap lang sa feeling na nakuha namin ‘yong title, lalo na tapos na ‘yong stint ko sa UP. Iba lang ‘yong saya kasi alam nyo naman pinagdaanan namin before namin makuha ‘to,” said Cagulangan.

Full circle for Mapua

It took three decades before the Mapua Cardinals could finally call themselves as champions. It was sweet and special, after all. 

Randy Alcantara was part of their last NCAA title run in 1991. A full circle moment, indeed, as he steered the Cardinals against the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the finals.

But there were jitters, of course, with Mapua going through a painful stretch after succumbing to San Beda in Season 99 in their best-of-three finals series despite the gallant efforts from Clint Escamis.

The 24-year-old versatile guard took charge for the Cardinals this year and had an MVP season. 

An 84-73 Game 1 win, followed by a 94-82 triumph, sealed the Cardinals’ sixth overall crown in NCAA history.