The UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — The University of the Philippines (UP) are going to their fourth straight UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals.

The Fighting Maroons will have another shot at glory as they defeated the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in their Season 87 Final 4 faceoff on Saturday, with the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored team taking advantage of their incentive against the Growling Tigers through a 78-69 win.

READ: Alarcon waxes hot in the second half as UP makes Finals return at UST’s expense

This is the fifth Finals appearance of State U in the last six years or since Season 81, and this, according to former UP star CJ Cansino, is a result of the collective efforts by both their players, coaches, and management.

“Ang sikreto, it’s about the management, coaches, and culture,” the Meralco Bolt told a few reporters just before he exited the Big Dome.

“Kailangan lahat nandoon eh. Siguro, isa yun sa pinaka secret formula. Kahit saan ka pumunta, pag maayos yung management at coach, susunod na rin yung players,” he added.

In that same span, more specifically, in early 2022, the Fighting Maroons were able to break a 36-year title drought by clinching the Season 85 championship at the expense of Ateneo de Manila University.

After that, while UP was not able to defend and reclaim the title in Seasons 85 and 86 — as the Blue Eagles and De La Salle University won the championships in those respective series — they were still able to reach the Finals but only fell short in the decider.
Former UP Fighting Maroons star CJ Cansino in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.Now that the Fighting Maroons are back in the Finals, what do they need to do to finally break their slump and bring the title back to Diliman?

“Tingin ko nasa kanila na yun eh, kung paano sila mananalo,” pointed out Cansino, who was a part of the Season 86 squad that lost to the Green Archers almost a year ago. “Meron naman silang piyesa para manalo, so siguro, yung mindset na lang nila. Kailangan nilang i-focus kung ano yung talagang goal nila.”

Last season against La Salle — much like their series against Ateneo the year prior — UP led the Best-of-3 series 1-0, but went on to lose the next two contests.

And for the former Fighting Maroons team captain, it will be mind over matter against whoever they will play in the Finals to avoid the same fate.

“Sa series na [versus] kung sino man yung makakalaban nila, yung pinakamananalo lang diyan ay yung kung sino yung gusto manalo,” he emphasized. “It’s about mindset, feeling ko mindset lang.”

UP will face the winner of the Final 4 faceoff between La Salle and Adamson University.

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