As basketball players from both sides rough it out in court, celebrities had their eyes glued on television to witness the much-awaited do-or-die UAAP game between University of the Philippines and Adamson University yesterday, November 28.
UP’s Fighting Maroons won over AdU’s Soaring Falcons with a close score of 89-87, advancing them to the 2018 UAAP Finals after a long 32 years.
Newscasters and U.P. alumni Bernadette Sembrano, Gretchen Fullido, and Kim Atienza, together with Noli de Castro, held a viewing party on set of TV Patrol.
“UP NAMING MAHAL! Captured the winning moment with 6 seconds to go! SO proud of you boys! UP FIGHT! We are in the finals after 32 YEARS!,” wrote Gretchen, who cried tears of joy for her alma mater’s well-deserved victory, on Instagram.
Autotelic band member Kai Honasan also showed support to U.P. by sharing her selfie wearing her old P.E. uniform on the image-sharing app.
Despite having come from neither schools, TV host Bianca Gonzalez cheered on for what she has described as an “insane” and “amazing” game.
GRABE yung game na to
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
WHAAAAAAT!!!! What an insane last 30 seconds of the game
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
My heart is celebrating with all my UP friends right now
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
Yung hindi ka from either school pero grabe yung tension mo
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
What a beautiful game this is
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
Why does this feel like they won a championship game
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
CONGRATULATIONS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING GAME!!!!!!
See you at the finals, UP!!!!! 💥💥💥
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) November 28, 2018
One big fight!!!! 💙#TheBattleOfKatipunan
Meanwhile, rockstar Raimund Marasigan and rapper BLKD on Tuesday released a track titled “Atin ‘To” in honor of the excellence of the UP Men’s Basketball Team, as well as the supportive community of their alma mater.
"Hindi lang students at admin ang nagse-celebrate ng UP victories kundi kahit IKOT and TOKI drivers, residents, etc. Sinadya man ni Desiderio o hindi, sinaklaw ng sinabi niya ang kabuuan at kaakuhan (identity) ng UP — hindi lang sila basketball team, hindi lang tayo university, isa tayong community (literal na may barangays sa loob ng UP!)," BLKD said.
The Fighting Maroons is set to play against defending champion Ateneo de Manila University’s Blue Eagles for the Game 1 of Finals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.