The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons reclaimed the UAAP men’s basketball championship with a 66-62 win over the La Salle Green Archers in Game 3 on Sunday, completing their comeback after back-to-back runner-up finishes.
Quentin Millora-Brown led UP with 14 points and 10 rebounds in his lone season with the team, while Francis Lopez contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds. JD Cagulangan, who was also a key figure in UP’s previous title run in UAAP Season 84, added 12 points and was named Finals MVP in his final year.
The game featured tense back-and-forth action, with UP building a 14-point lead in the third quarter. La Salle fought back with a 13-0 run, cutting the deficit to a single point early in the fourth. The Green Archers finally tied the game at 56, but Millora-Brown’s timely basket and Cagulangan’s three-pointer gave UP a slight edge.
With the game on the line in the final minute, Lopez drilled a clutch three-pointer to put UP up 64-60 with 1:12 left. Millora-Brown then iced the game with two free throws, his fourth and fifth successful attempts of the game, after missing key free throws in a Game 2 loss.
EJ Gollena’s jump shot with 44 seconds left cut La Salle’s deficit to two, but UP held firm, executing a disciplined offense to secure the championship.
La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, who had delivered clutch performances in Game 2, struggled against UP’s defense, finishing with 13 points off the bench. Mike Phillips led the Green Archers with 18 points and 12 rebounds but fouled out with 11 seconds remaining, sealing their fate as runners-up.
The Fighting Maroons, who will return most of their roster next season, are primed to defend their crown as they bid farewell to Millora-Brown and Cagulangan.