UAAP Season 84: Cagulangan lifts UP to first title since 1986

Joel Cagulangan catapulted the University of the Philippines back on top of the UAAP men’s basketball after 36 long years with the game-winning triple with 0.5 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Fighting Maroons to a 72-69 overtime win over defending champion Ateneo de Manila University on Friday, May 13, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Trailing by five with less than two minutes to go in the extra period, Cagulangan made back-to-back big-time plays.

He first drained a bailout three-pointer before combining with Malick Diouf to make it 69-all with 39.7 seconds left in overtime. With time winding down, Cagulangan milked the clock and then pulled a step-back game-winning three-pointer.

“Sobrang sarap, wala akong masabi. Champion na kami. Sobrang sarap talaga,” Cagulangan, a native of Butuan, said.

It was the third title for UP in the league. Their first tile was way back during the second season of the league while their second came 47 years later during season 49.

“I feel very happy right now,” first-year head coach of the Fighting Maroons Goldwin Monteverde said. “I want to thank the UP community. I also want to thank the Lord God for this championship.”

Finals MVP Diouf finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. He averaged 12.3 rebounds, 11.7 points, 2.7 steals, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in the series. CJ Cansino returned to action and chipped in 14 points.

Cagulangan finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Belangel led the Blue Eagles with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting while Kouame finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

The Scores:
UP 72 – Diouf 17, Cansino 14, Cagulangan 13, Rivero 9, Alarcon 8, Tamayo 6, Spencer 3, Lucero 0, Abadiano 0, Fortea 0.

ATENEO 69 – Belangel 27, Kouame 12, Mamuyac 10, Koon 6, Verano 5, Ildefonso 2, Tio 2, Andrade 0, Daves 0, Chiu 0.

Quarters: 17-11, 31-27, 46-47, 59-59, 72-69.