The UP Fighting Maroons had almost forgotten how it felt to win until they woke up from a two-year stupor last Aug. 9 to demolish fellow-cellar dweller Adamson, 77-64.
What happened next was one for the books.
How an ecstatic, frenzied UP community could gather at a moment’s notice at the campus’ Sunken Garden for a big bonfire, live music and fireworks is a wonder. No less than UP president Michael Tan led the merrymakers composed of students, faculty, employees, alumni and athletes.
Many people thought the celebration was an overkill. But the community didn’t care. They were hungry for rain after 172 days of drought.
“We’re not really celebrating the victory. We’re rejoicing because the long losing streak ended,” said deputy coach Ramil Cruz, who took over the coaching reins from suspended head mentor Rey Madrid.
Cruz and Madrid are both former Maroons who played under coach Joe Lipa. They were ahead of the champion batch that included Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano.
Cruz, who was supervisor of officials in the PBA until the job became too stressful, said he derived so much joy and pleasure from seeing how this singular win made an entire UP community jubilant.
UP team manager Dan Palami of Azkals fame expressed the same sentiment. State U celebrated in a big way because the jinx has been broken, he told media people during the party. Inquirer scribe Jasmine W. Payo said it was Palami who promised a bonfire if UP won against the Falcons.
The day before the UP-Adamson game, scribes were teasing Falcons assistant coach Vince Hizon, who was one of the PBA legends featured in a press conference last Friday noon at Gerry’s Grill in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
Hizon said he had to leave the presscon early to attend practice because they had to prepare for the game against UP the following day. One of the scribes joked that it was a championship game for cellar dwellers.
Meanwhile, Paras, who was also featured in the same presscon, confirmed that eldest son Andre had transferred to San Beda from UP, where he played for one season. If we don’t see him playing, that’s because the NCAA requires a one-year residency, according to San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.
The way I understand it from Cruz, the UP team has just undergone a reorganization.
“Kasi there’s a transition period in every reorganization. Previous management walked out on the Maroons, that’s why we had to find ways to rebuild the team and look for financial support to sustain it.
“It was a tedious transformation but we were able to manage it,” he said.