UP Fighting Maroons

Philippine collegiate team
name=UP Fighting Maroons
color1=#228B22
color2=#800000
schoollogo=

schoolname=University of the Philippines, Diliman
teamlogo=upfm.jpg
league=UAAP
founded=1938
Founding member of the NCAA on 1924
titles=UAAP
total=5
(1977-78, 1978-79, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1997-98)
jtitles=UAAP
location=Diliman, Quezon City
colors=
White as a tertiary color
junior=Junior Maroons (formerly the Preps)
women=Lady Maroons
cheer=U-nibersidad (ng Pilipinas), UP Fight!|

The Fighting Maroons is the varsity team of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The team competes in all sports of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), in which it is one of the founding members (1938). The team is a perennial contender for the over-all championship for the past years in that league. It was also a founding member and the mastermind of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the year 1924.

The team last won the UAAP Seniors Overall Championship in the 1997-1998 season, two years before the University last hosted the competitions prior to its centennial.

The University of the Philippines Integrated School is the junior affiliate school. They play as the "Junior Maroons", formerly the "Preps".

Name

The word Maroon comes from the Spanish word "cimarron" which means wild: untamed. They were slaves who either ran away from or were released by the Spanish before the English invaded Jamaica in 1655. They were successful in retaining their independence after 150 years of slavery by constantly defending their freedom. Their settlements were small, not more than 2,000 strong, but they fought as if they were in greater numbers. (taken from [http://members.tripod.com/livi_d/history/history.htm#The%20Maroons The History of Jamaica] )

The use of the term embodies the spirit of students of the University to "escape" from the status quo, by trying to bring it to a state of betterment. The adjective "fighting" was added for the athletic team to intensify the eagerness to combat any obstacles to win for the honor of the University.

Former names include the "Maroons and Greens" and the "Parrots".

Teams

UAAP Varsity Teams:
* Basketball
* Volleyball
* Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Chess
* Baseball
* Football
* Softball

* Tennis
* Judo
* Badminton
* Fencing
* Taekwondo
* Athletics
* Beach Volleyball

Other Varsity Teams:
* Pep Squad
* Rifle Pistol Team

Championships

The following table shows the number of championships in the UAAP, unless otherwise specified. It can be noted that UP has titles in all the sports in the UAAP program (except the newly-installed beach volleyball, so far) and the University boasts of successful swimming and volleyball programs, with 29 and 28 titles apiece in the league (32 for swimming if one includes NCAA). UP also holds the most number of titles in judo and badminton in the UAAP.

fnb|C1Fencing and Women's Tennis were demonstration sports in 1996-97, and is not included in the calculation of points for the overall championship.
fnb|C2This placing is due to forfeiture of La Salle games. See UAAP Season 68 for details.
fnb|C3Beach volleyball was a demonstration sport in 2006-07, and is not included in the calculation of points for the overall championship.

Juniors Division championships

Men's Basketball

Current players

Notable Players

* Joe Lipa former coach, UP Fighting Maroons
* Benjie Paras, only Rookie MVP of the Philippine Basketball Association and actor
* Ronnie Magsanoc
* Eric Altamirano, former PBA coach
* Joey Guanio
* Ryan Gregorio
* Bo Perasol
* Ricky Dandan
* Poch Juinio
* Paolo Mendoza, once scored 80 points while playing for the Junior Maroons, on may be the highest point total in juniors' play.
* Bryan Gahol
* Jojo Villa
* Edrick Ferrer
* Mike Arandia
* Mike Bravo
* Jenkins Mesina
* Marvin Cruz
* Artemio "Toti" Almeda
* Jireh Ibañes
* Jay-r Reyes
* Abby Santos
* Nestor David
* Rodel Celo
* Kenneth Robin
* Bruce Quebral
* Yeng Guiao

ee also

*University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)
*University of the Philippines
*UAAP Cheerdance Competition

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/upfighting_maroons UP Fighting Maroons unofficial site]
* [http://www.maroonsbasketball.com UP Fighting Maroons Basketball Blog]

References