UP kicks off UAAP Season 89 with win over UST

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons opened their UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament campaign with a comeback victory over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 92-85, on Sept. 13, 2026, at SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With uncertainties clouding the UP basketball program after the departure of seniors Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda, the retooled Fighting Maroons roster proved it had poise under pressure, frustrating UST after erasing the Growling Tigers’ nine-point lead to grab the opening-night win.

Newcomers Veejay Pre and James Payosing showed that they can fill the gap that the “Maroon 5” left, while Arvie Poyos, Sean Alter, Francis Nnoruka, and Rey Remogat provided the much-needed spark to halt UST’s momentum.

It was a highly physical nip-and-tuck affair in the first half, with the Fighting Maroons getting on the board early before UST countered with a 26-20 run heading into the third quarter.

However, the breaks of the game favored UST in the third frame, as the duo of Mark Llemit and Amiel Acido made UP pay for every turnover it committed with quick baskets on the other end.

Just when UST thought it could sustain its hot hand after establishing a nine-point lead, the experienced UP core went to work, dominating the final 13 minutes of regulation with elite shot-making and timely defensive stops.

Trailing 53-58 with 3:40 remaining in the third, Payosing spearheaded UP’s counterattack with a massive putback off Pre’s 3-point miss, followed by baskets from Poyos and Alter to retake the lead, 66-62.

All the Fighting Maroons needed was that 13-4 run, as UST never came back to level the ball game and played catch-up until the final buzzer sounded.

Despite struggling offensively, Remogat came up clutch in the most crucial stretch of the fourth quarter, pouring in eight points in the final 4:27 to cap off UP’s impressive win in style.

Nnoruka top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with an efficient double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, while the 1-2 punch of Remogat and Miguel Yñiguez added 11 points apiece.

On the other hand, the Growling Tigers received a much-needed scoring burst from Llemit and Acido, who combined for 37 points, but their offensive masterclass wasn’t enough to contain UP’s dominance in the fourth quarter.

The Fighting Maroons will look to extend their perfect UAAP start on Sept. 19 against the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, while UST seeks to bounce back today against the defending champion DLSU Green Archers.