There’s no shame in a loss like this. It was a collision of raw, untapped brilliance from UP and the relentless grit of La Salle’s proven core.
In a packed arena that pulsed with tension and hope, the Green Archers surrendered their crown in an agonizingly close 62-66 battle against the UP Maroons.
“It still came down to the last two possessions” Coach Topex said in the postgame interview.
From the start, it felt like the Maroons had something to prove. They stormed ahead to an early 14-point lead and carried a slim 50-56 advantage into the final quarter. The Archers, undaunted, relentlessly fought their way back, tying the game at 56 on Kevin Quiambao’s final UAAP triple. But time and time again, UP found answers to every La Salle rally.
Joshua David, playing his last game of his seasons in the green and white, brought the game level once more at 58-all with a midrange two with 7:13 left. Moments later, Lian Ramiro sliced the deficit to a single point, 60-61.
But then, as if scripted for heartbreak, Francis Lopez delivered a dagger three, and Quintin Millora-Brown sealed it with two brutal ice-cold free throws. The final buzzer cut through the air like a knife, leaving the Archers in tears as the Maroons danced in celebration.
Amid the heartbreak, a haunting question lingered in every tear: Was this our title to lose?
Coach Topex Robinson said —it was a very challenging season. La Salle’s dominance in the eliminations, sweeping UP twice without JD Cagulangan or QMB in the lineup, made an illusion of being title favorites. But when the Maroons’ dynamic duo finally took the floor together, the chemistry was undeniable.
Cagulangan’s mastery of the pick-and-roll and his Chris-Paul-patterned midrange manipulation demanded double teams, providing space for QMB to exploit mismatches down low. And the moment the defense collapsed, Millora-Brown’s crisp passing found snipers like Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, or Terence Fortea waiting to bury crucial shots.
On the defensive end, UP was a fortress. Their interior defense, anchored by the towering Millora-Brown and the explosive Francis Lopez, smothered La Salle’s inside game with their length and vertical. Quiambao battled valiantly against Reyland Torres’ physicality, and Motor Mike Phillips was swarmed by at least three bodies each time he drove to the basket.
Even when the Maroons’ offense sputtered, their defense stood unyielding. Every missed La Salle shot, every blocked layup, every stolen possession felt like another punch in the gut.
And so, the curtain fell on what felt like a season straight out of a storybook.
It began with promise—12-2 in the eliminations, blemished only by losses to NU and UE. Yet, the Archers conquered the Final Four’s best, even as injuries mounted. CJ Austria and Josh David worked their way back from start-of-the-season setbacks, and the team sorely missed Earl Abadam’s shot creation and defensive presence in critical games.
As the Maroons celebrated their triumph, Coach Topex reminded his players to soak in the moment. His words carried the weight of a man who had seen both the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. “We’re still in the finals,” he said. “This is something to cherish.”
For Coach Topex, it was never just about the trophy. It was about shaping these young men, giving them memories they’d carry for life, win or lose.
“Brother Bernie told us that we’ve achieved something bigger than basketball—we brought a community together.”
The sting of this loss will fade, as all wounds do. But the bonds forged in the fire of this season will remain unbroken.
Until Season 88, Animo La Salle!
Very well put! Kudos! The article encapsulated everything what uaap season 87 basketball championship was all about … in so far as the DLSU green archers & community is concerned. I’d say, it’s not winning or losing the championship that counts, but how the game was played … which brought out the best in the La Sallian spirit! Looking forward to season 88! Animo, La Salle!