The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) finally bagged their first Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Cup title last July 21 in Taiwan.
The UP Men’s Basketball Team bested Taiwan’s Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, in a thrilling game that ended with a score of 97-93.
The UP Fighting Maroons, finalists at the 2018 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship series, was able to bag the 2019 BLIA Cup title after successive attempts to claim it in 2014 and 2015.
UP Men’s Basketball Team’s Coach Bo Perasol led the players in dedicating the victory to the Overseas Filipino Workers who exerted efforts to watch and support their live game at the Kaohsiung Arena in Taiwan.
Chien Hsin led the first half of the game with nine three-pointers, leaving behind the UP Maroons with the score at 46-43.
Kobe Paras’ offensive game led the Philippine Team in the second half of the game, closing the gap with his 28 points. With 3 minutes and a half remaining in the game, the score was tied, 83 all.
UP MBT then went on a rally led by Paras’ fastbreak dunk, giving the state university team their largest lead of 11 points (94-83) with only 1:27 left in the game.
Despite Taiwan’s 10-point rally, the UP Men’s Basketball Team was able to hold on to a four-point lead, snatching their first Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Cup title.
Paras was declared Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game, capping the 5-game sweep of the BLIA tournament by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team.
SEND cheers in the comments below for the UP Fighting Maroons, 2019 BLIA Cup champions!
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