The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball championship title is back in UP Diliman (UPD).

The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) dethroned the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 66-62, in a thrilling game three of their finals series on Dec. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

It was a game of run and counter-runs in the first half of the game, with the UP Fighting Maroons ahead by only six points, 42-36, at the half time break.

The UP Fighting Maroons were then able to make some separation and established their biggest lead, 54-40, off Gerry Abadiano’s two free throws at the 4:59 mark of the third period. DLSU however, came back and was able to trim down UPMBT’s lead to six points, 56-50, going into the final period.

The two teams fought it out like true warriors in the payoff period, exchanging basket after basket. With UP Fighting Maroons ahead by a single point, 61-60, Francis Lopez buried a three-point shot from the top of the key, extending the UP Fighting Maroons’ lead to four points, 64-60, with one minute and 31 seconds more to go.

EJ Gollena then pushed DLSU within two points with his layup conversion, still with 46. 6 ticks left.

In the next UP Fighting Maroons possession, JD Cagulangan missed his jump shot but Abadiano was able to get the offensive rebound, forcing DLSU’s Kevin Quiambao to foul the former to stop the clock. From a sideline inbound, with 19.8 seconds left, the UP Fighting Maroons was able to waste some precious time before DLSU’s Mike Phillips’ duty foul on UPMBT’s Quentin Millora-Brown (QMB) took place. QMB then made his two clutch foul shots to seal the championship for the Diliman-based dribblers.

QMB paced the UP Fighting Maroons with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lopez and Cagulangan each scored 12 points, while Abadiano contributed nine points

Cagulangan, who averaged 13.66 points, 4.66 assists, and 4.33 rebounds per game in the championship series, was named Finals Most Valuable Player. He started his career with the UP Fighting Maroons as champions in Season 84 and ended his collegiate career as a champion and Finals MVP this season.