It was a year of redemption in college basketball as University of the Philippines (UP) and Mapua University regained their respective thrones after years of heartbreaks in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

After two years of frustration, the Fighting Maroons are back on top after defeating the mighty De La Salle University in a thrilling three-game finale to conquer the UAAP Season 87 title early this month.

The Fighting Maroons blew hot and cold in the eliminations.

They had a rollercoaster campaign but displayed some traces of vulnerability, especially when JD Cagulangan and Quentin Millora-Brown sat out their preliminary battles against the Green Archers.

With Cagulangan and Millora-Brown out, the Fighting Maroons suffered a 56-68 setback in the first round before absorbing a 66-77 loss in the second round to allow the Green Archers complete a sweep in their elimination round duel.

Despite standing on shaky ground, the spirits of these Fighting Maroons never wavered.

They clobbered University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, in the Final Four to gain momentum heading into their much-awaited clash with the Green Archers — the team that has been holding the crown after conquering Season 86 last year.

UP drew the first blood, 73-65, after Filipino-American rookie Jacob Bayla stepped up and employed an airtight defense on reigning Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao.

But the Green Archers stormed back as Francis Lopez made some late-game blunders, including four crucial free throws down the stretch, to suffer a razor-thin 75-76 loss in Game 2.

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde admitted that it was a painful loss but their confidence on the embattled Lopez remains rock solid.

“If it boils down to the last feed… we’ll still look for him. We have our full trust in him,” Monteverde said as he affirmed his faith in the Season 86 Rookie of the Year.

“As I said, each member of the team will try their best to make shots or execute. But then, I assured it that our trust will always be there.”

True enough, the trust the Fighting Maroons had put on Lopez was very obvious in Game 3 as the high-flying forward delivered, knocking down a crucial three-pointer in the final 72 seconds that lifted them to the title-clinching 66-62 victory.

Lopez averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during their finals rematch with the Green Archers but it was his heroic performance in Game 3 that will be remembered by future generations of UP fans.

“Like I said, I don’t care about what they say, you know, and I’m not here to please anybody from the outside, man. I’m not here to please anybody,” said Lopez after helping UP reclaim the title that eluded it for two seasons when Ateneo de Manila University and La Salle beat them in the finals.

Monteverde, for his part, was over the moon with their story of redemption.

“Seeing them bounce back from two straight finals defeats, I’m proud of them. It means a lot to me and for other people to see someone get up, fight and return to the top,” Monteverde said.

“Getting two championships in four finals appearances, it’s because of the support of the whole community.”

Redemption was also the battle cry of the Cardinals when they successfully won the NCAA crown for the first time since 1991.

After helping the Red Robins win a juniors title eight years ago, star playmaker Clint Escamis packed his bags to University of the East in the UAAP. But home is where his heart truly is as he made a rousing return to fulfill his promise of leading the Cardinals to an NCAA crown.

He finally delivered when Mapua secured a convincing 94-82 win over a powerhouse College of Saint Benilde squad to capture the Season 100 title.

Mapua coach Randy Alcantara, who coached Escamis and the Red Robins when they won the juniors title in Season 92 in 2016, was mighty proud seeing his ward blossom from a happy-go-lucky journeyman into one of the greatest players ever to don the school’s red and gold.