UAAP Season 2018: The Battle of Katipunan

Original work by "the" Arnold Arre, 2018

By now the Battle of Katipunan has ended. The dust have settled. Bonfires extinguished. As a basketball fan, I follow the UAAP's games and news on TV, social media and once upon a time, watched the games. I have long gave up on the Philippine Basketball Association though and that is another story. I digress.

Back to this season's UAAP. It is a memorable and historic run by the University of the Philippines' Fighting Maroons. From zero to hero, the Iskolars ng Bayan showed grit, perseverance and diligence in a sport dominated by the well trained, systematic and scientific Blue Eagles of the Ateneo de Manila University. Suffice it to say that this season's UAAP had a lot of inspiring stories that will keep us hoping in a time of darkness and divisiveness.

I have chosen and curated news and articles that show this inspiration and hope in the competitive sport of basketball.

Jijil Jimenez tells us the fighting spirit of Paul Desiderio, team captain of the Men's Basketball Team and how alumni rallied and banded together to help raise the team that we all saw fight during the finals of the UAAP.

Nikko Ramos and Recah Trinidad recalls the highlights and memorable moments of the season, comparing the Ateneo to UP teams, how different in status quo and socio-economic backgrounds these two schools are, but all the more the same in charism, spirit and devotion to God and country. In the end, it is the camaraderie of these learning communities that radiated and made this basketball season one for the books.

To end, an Atenean, Eriko C. Dela Cruz wrote an endearing and sincere letter to the UP Community. Proof that the Battle of Katipunan is a competition between friends who, different as they are, are one in ideals and dreams of building a better Philippines.