The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) won its opening game in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament against the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, 77-61.

The Fighting Maroons and Blue Eagles match up, popularly known as The Battle of Katipunan, was the lone game played after the spectacular opening ceremonies of the UAAP Season 87 on Sept. 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons had a slow start and was just ahead by a point, 17-16, at the end of the first period. In the second period, JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, and Terrence Fortea propelled the UPMBT to a 10-point lead going into the game’s second half.

The UPMBT then continued its assault and was able to establish its biggest lead at 50-32, courtesy of rookie Jacob Bayla’s mid-range jumper at the 7:13 mark of the third frame.

The Blue Eagles, however, fought back and was able to cut the UPMBT’s lead to eight points, 54-62, midway of the final quarter. The UPMBT responded with a 7-0 blast, courtesy of Cagulangan’s jumper and a back-to-back basket by Lopez —giving the UPMBT a 15-point cushion and eventually taking the fight out of the Blue Eagles.

Cagulangan led the UPMBT with 17 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Lopez contributed 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while big man Quentin Millora-Brown made his presence felt by grabbing 17 rebounds, scoring seven points, and two block shots. The UPMBT’s next game is against the University of the East Red Warriors on Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m. also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.