Heartbreak Kids, no more

OVER the weekends, basketball nation have witnessed two title hungry collegiate teams ended their lifetime search in a separate historic fashion before a multitude of supporters.

Both tagged as “heartbreak kids”, University of the Philippine, known as the fighting Maroons, frustrated in their last two finals of the UAAP. finally brushed aside their runner-up image, prevailed over the La Salle Green Archers in Game three, 66-62..

It was the 5”10’ D.J Cagulangan and Francis Lopez provided the Maroons’ one-big fight with 12 points apiece, while 6’11” Quintin Millora-Brown with 14 markers.

But it was Cagulangan’s heads-up play that kept Diliman-based at bay with the Archers, before himself as the Finals MVP at the final buzzer. La Salle and Gilas-Pilipinas mainstay Kevin Quiambo was named Season 87 MVP and his second straight.

It was indeed a long and arduous search for the State U dribblers whose capped the season with their fourth UAAP title and their only second in four years.

Before their hard-earned title run. Another Maroon squad previously ended a 46-title drought in 1986 the team mentored by the legendary coach in Joe Lipa.

The then Fighting Maroons assembled by Lipa were comprised by PBA’s only Rookie and MVP awardee Benjie Paras, pointguard Ronnie Magsanoc, SBP coaching staff Eric Altamirano, Dwyn Salbatera, Joey Guanio and diminutive Alfie Manlulo..

Other side of the fence, another collegiate team,the Mapua Institute of Technological Cardinals, likewise ended their title quest after outlasting the St. Benilde Blazers, 94-82, to capture their only sixth NCAA seniors’ championship in the league’s centennial season, while ending a 33-year title drought.

Mapua Tech.under the mentorship of former PBA star Joel Banal led another bunch of Cardinals snapped school’s previous 16-year title-cycle in 1991, before Banal led the Cardinal anew the following year for their first back to back title.

Current Mapua head coach Randy Alcantra and former Ginebra San Miguel stalwart Benny Cheng and Magnolia Hotshot head coach Chito Victolero were among the members of that Mapua two-feat squad.

With Mapua Tech. and the UP Fighting Maroons title triumph have distinguished themselves as “heartbreak kids” no more. They can truly called champions.