The UP Fighting Maroons are the collegiate men's basketball team of the University of the Philippines Diliman, which play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere sports league in the country.
Etymology The "Fighting Maroons" name is derived from the Maroons, escaped African slaves in the Caribbean. UP was formerly known as the "Maroons" in the 1920s, derived from the color of their uniforms, then as the "UP Parrots" starting in the 1930s, until it was changed to the current "UP Fighting Maroons" in the 1990s.
History
UP is one of the founding members (1938) of the UAAP. It was also a founding member and the originator of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1924. Prior to the establishment of the Diliman campus, the campus was in what is now University of the Philippines Manila.
The Fighting Maroons won their first championship title in the inaugural season of the NCAA (1924–1925). They also became the champions in NCAA Season 1 (1925–1926), and NCAA Season 2 (1926–1927), winning three consecutive titles. The Fighting Maroons won their last championship in the NCAA in Season 5 (1929–1930). After six years, the Fighting Maroons permanently withdrew from competing in NCAA.
In 1938, Far Eastern University, National University, the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas formed the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. UP Fighting Maroons won their first championship in the UAAP in UAAP Season 2 (1939–1940).
As of , the Fighting Maroons have won four championship titles in UAAP men's basketball.
Current roster
Head coaches 1981–1986: Joe Lipa 1991–1993: Rey Madrid 1994: Joe Lipa 1995: Orlando Bauzon 1995–1996: Eric Altamirano 1997–1999: Nic Jorge 2000–2002: Ryan Gregorio 2002: Allan Gregorio 2003–2005: Lito Vergara 2006–2007: Joe Lipa 2008–2010: Aboy Castro 2010: Potit de Vera (interim) 2010: Boyet Fernandez (acting) 2011–2013: Ricky Dandan 2013: Rey Madrid (interim) 2014–2015: Rey Madrid 2015: Rensy Bajar 2016–2020: Bo Perasol 2021–present: Goldwin Monteverde
Season-by-season records Until 1997, the UAAP primarily ranked the teams by tournament points using FIBA's method. Starting in 1998, the UAAP primarily ranked by winning percentage. There's no difference in ranking once all games were played, but in the middle of the season, rankings made by these two methods may differ.
Until 1997 SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPtsGPWLResults1986UAAP2nd/8220Won Finals vs UE1987UAAP3rd/8149516Did not qualify, 3rd place1988UAAP3rd/81410423Did not qualify, 3rd place1989UAAP5th/8148622Did not qualify1990UAAP7th/81441018Did not qualify1991UAAP4th/814Did not qualify1992UAAP8th/8145919Did not qualify1993UAAP7th/81431117No playoffs held1994UAAP5th/7124816Did not qualify1995UAAP5th/8145919Did not qualify1996UAAP3rd/8149523101Lost semifinals vs UST1997UAAP4th/8148622211Lost semifinals vs FEU
Since 1998 SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPCTGBGPWLResults1998UAAP5th/81477.5006101Lost 4th seed playoff vs UST1999UAAP6th/81459.4296Did not qualify2000UAAP6th/814410.2868Did not qualify2001UAAP7th/81468.4296Did not qualify2002UAAP6th/81459.3578Did not qualify2003UAAP7th/814311.2148Did not qualify2004UAAP5th/81477.5004Did not qualify2005UAAP5th/81468.4296Did not qualify2006UAAP6th/71248.3336Did not qualify2007UAAP8th/814014.00014Did not qualify2008UAAP6th/814311.21410Did not qualify2009UAAP8th/814311.21410Did not qualify2010UAAP8th/814014.00012Did not qualify2011UAAP8th/814212.14311Did not qualify2012UAAP8th/814113.07111Did not qualify2013UAAP8th/814014.00010Did not qualify2014UAAP7th/814113.07110Did not qualify2015UAAP7th/814311.2148Did not qualify2016UAAP6th/81459.3578Did not qualify2017UAAP5th/81468.4297Did not qualify2018UAAP3rd/81486.5714422Lost Finals vs Ateneo2019UAAP2nd/81495.6435202Lost stepladder round 2 vs UST2020UAAPSeason canceled2022 (S84)UAAP2nd/814122.8571532Won Finals vs Ateneo2022 (S85)UAAP2nd/814113.786—422Lost Finals vs Ateneo2023UAAP1st/814122.857—422Lost Finals vs La Salle2024UAAP2nd/814113.7861431Won Finals vs La Salle2025UAAP2nd/814104.7141422Lost Finals vs La Salle
Honors
Team honors
University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Champions (4): 1939, 1986, 2022, 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champions (4): 1924, 1925, 1926, 1929 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions (3): 2023, 2024, 2025
Player honors
UAAP Most Valuable Player Fort Acuña (1): 1968 Eric Altamirano (1): 1986 Bright Akhuetie (1): 2019 Malick Diouf (1): 2022 UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player Malick Diouf (1): 2022 JD Cagulangan (1): 2024 UAAP Rookie of the Year Benjie Paras: 1986 Woody Co: 2006 Kyles Jefferson Lao: 2013 Juan Gómez de Liaño: 2017 Carl Tamayo: 2022 Francis Lopez: 2023
Notable players
See also University of the Philippines UP Fighting Maroons
References