The rise of De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas to the summit of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, or UAAP, has been truly impressive.

The Green Archers marched into the Season 86 men's basketball tournament with zero expectations.

They walked into the UAAP jungle with a new head coach, a new system, and a young leader in Kevin Quiambao.

Sure, head coach Topex Robinson had experience coaching at the collegiate level, having guided San Sebastian College and Lyceum of the Philippines in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. But the UAAP is an entirely different arena as it is stacked with some of the country's biggest and richest programs with distinguished coaches like Tab Baldwin of Ateneo de Manila University and Goldwin Monteverde of the University of the Philippines.

La Salle's heart and soul — Quiambao — was a greenhorn as well.

Already 22, he was technically one year removed from being the UAAP Rookie of the Year, and the tough task of giving the La Sallian community its first title in seven years was too much for him to bear.

The Green Archers struggled in the eliminations, losing three of their first six matches. But with Quiambao pumping new life into the team with his all-around brilliance, La Salle eventually caught up and made it to the Final Four as the second seed behind UP.

They beat National University in the semis, while the Fighting Maroons made short work of reigning champion Ateneo to set the stage for a thrilling finale between an old guard and a young challenger.

Clearly, La Salle was the underdog. The Fighting Maroons would be making their third consecutive trip to the finals, and they had all the pieces to win the title, like veterans Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, JD Cagulangan, and red-hot rookie Francis Lopez.

The mighty Fighting Maroons flaunted their might when they crushed a jittery La Salle squad by 30 points in Game 1, 97-67. It was a massacre, the most lopsided victory in a finals opener ever recorded in the Final Four era.

But the Green Archers refused to quit.

Quiambao quietly licked his wounds and promised to bounce back in Game 2. He delivered on that promise by leading La Salle to an 82-60 win to level the series and somehow swing the momentum in their favor.

Smelling blood, the Green Archers stepped on the gas as they employed an airtight defense in the crucial stretch of Game 3. Then Quiambao delivered the finishing blows to seal a heart-stopping 73-69 victory and take down the powerful Maroons to clinch their first title since 2016.

Tears of joy flooded Smart Araneta Coliseum as basketball fans celebrated the victory and treated it as if it were their own, regardless of which school they were rooting for. Even La Salle's bitter nemesis — Ateneo — lit up in green the Church of the Gesu and the Arete on its Katipunan campus to celebrate one of the most heartwarming victories in the history of Philippine basketball.

A few hours before La Salle's incredible victory, the UST Tigresses reigned supreme in women's basketball as they tore down the seven-year reign of National University via a 71-69 win.

UST coach Haydee Ong could not hide her emotions, saying that her girls really wanted the victory as the Lady Bulldogs used to clobber them by 60, 80 points at the peak of their dynasty the last seven years.

True enough, the joy that Filipinos felt when La Salle and UST lifted their respective UAAP basketball trophies is a testament to their penchant for cheering for the underdog.

Manny Pacquiao won the hearts of the Filipinos not just because of his lightning-quick punches but because of his ability to clobber taller, heavier opponents. Hidilyn Diaz, EJ Obiena and Carlos Yulo also became sports icons due to their determination to rise from the ashes of devastating setbacks.

The victories of La Salle and UST do not just equate to shiny golden crowns on their heads. Their triumphs perfectly mirror Filipinos' resilience and readiness to bounce back from heart-crushing losses.

La Salle and UST inspired the entire nation, making Filipinos believe they can conquer their fears and emerge victorious over life's gigantic challenges through hard work, determination, perseverance, and, of course, lots of prayers.