UP dominates NU to defend FilOil Preseason crown

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

It doesn’t matter if it’s a preseason or a regular one. Expect the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to perform on the brightest stage.

On July 27, 2025, the reigning hoops kings of the UAAP defended their championship title in the FilOil Preseason Cup against the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 79-65, at the FilOil Centre.

The Fighting Maroons banked on a momentum-seizing offensive run midway through the second quarter that ballooned their lead to double digits after a tightly contested battle in the opening frame of the finals game.

UP started out slow after failing to drain wide-open shots from the rainbow country but made it up with their paint-oriented attack to hold a narrow 20-17 cushion.

Just when the Bulldogs thought they could replicate their semifinals win by going downhill every time they grabbed the leather, UP answered back with a patient mixed zone defense that disrupted their rhythm quickly.

As a result, the Fighting Maroons gave NU a dose of their own medicine in the second period and stretched their lead to 46-33 which put their supporters on their feet.

Francis Nnoruka, UP’s new Foreign Student Athlete (FSA), came up big during that rally as his effort in pulling down the offensive rebounds rewarded the Fighting Maroons with crucial second-chance points.

Not only did Nnoruka anchor the paint for UP, but the athletic big man also went off to the races and finished several fast break opportunities.

NU kicked off the third quarter with straight conversions from Jake Figueroa but Ilonggo guard Gerry Abadiano buried timely perimeter jumpers that helped protect their double-digit lead.

All hell broke loose when Gani Stevens joined the scoring barrage, as his much-needed paint resurgence helped UP establish its biggest lead to 21 points, 70-49.

After that sequence, the Fighting Maroons never looked back and wisely ran their sets without rushing during the whole fourth frame.

On the other hand, NU entered the emergency zone and was in dire need of an almost perfect closing show, an attempt that the Fighting Maroons spoiled using their defense.

With another championship in FilOil, UP will wrap up its preseason preparations as the next UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament begins in the third week of September.