The UP Fighting Maroons are the collegiate varsity teams of the University of the Philippines Diliman. The teams play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Philippines' premier college sports league.

UP is one of four member-universities that participate in all 15 sporting events of the league.

History

UP was one of the founding members of the UAAP in 1938. It was also a founding member and the originator of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the year 1924.

UP is a perennial contender for the overall championship in the UAAP every season. The team last won the UAAP Seniors Overall Championship (now referred to as Collegiate) in the 1997–1998 season, two years before UP last hosted the competitions before its centennial.

The UAAP has eight member-universities and holds tournaments in 13 sports (17 sports disciplines). Only four of the eight member-universities participate in all of the thirteen sports; UP is one of these four.

Team identity

Team monikers

Prior to the establishment of the NCAA in 1924, the sports press have been referring to the collegiate teams by the color of their uniforms. School varsity teams were called the Blue and Whites, the Red and Whites, the Green and Whites and in the case of UP, the Maroon and Greens. In the late 1930s, schools started to adopt mascots and the sports press would now refer to their varsity teams by the name of their mascots. Sportswriters wrote about the games played by the Blue Eagles, the Green Archers, the Red Lions in their sports articles for their news dailies. In the case of UP, the varsity team was called the UP Parrots when the school adopted the parrot as its mascot. Sometime in the 1990s, the moniker UP Parrots was changed to UP Fighting Maroons when the parrot was dropped as the team mascot. The new moniker revived the old (vintage 1920s) name Maroons, and the adjective "fighting" was added to describe the kind of spirit that the varsity teams of UP have when they participate in the arena of competitive sports.

Aside from Fighting Maroons, which is applicable for all teams, there are other official varsity team names that exist, which are sourced from the school's official student publications. They are as follows: (Note that either UP/UPIS is appended before the team names for the case of the collegiate and high school teams, respectively.)

SportMen's team namesWomen's team namesBoys' team namesGirls' team names
Basketball/3x3Fighting MaroonsFighting MaroonsJunior Fighting MaroonsNo team
FootballFighting Maroons BootersFighting Maroons BootersNo teamNo team
Volleyball/Beach VolleyFighting MaroonsFighting MaroonsFighting MaroonsFighting Maroons
BaseballFighting Maroons BattersNo TeamNo TeamNo team
SoftballNo teamFighting Maroons BattersNo teamNo team
BadmintonFighting Maroons SmashersFighting Maroons SmashersNo teamNo team
TennisMaroon Tennis TeamMaroon Tennis TeamNo teamNo team
Table TennisFighting Maroons PaddlersFighting Maroons PaddlersJunior Fighting Maroons PaddlersJunior Fighting Maroons Paddlers
AthleticsFighting Maroons TrackstersFighting Maroons TrackstersJunior Fighting Maroons TrackstersJunior Fighting Maroons Tracksters
SwimmingFighting Maroons TankersFighting Maroons TankersJunior Fighting Maroons TankersJunior Fighting Maroons Tankers
FencingFighting Maroons FencersFighting Maroons FencersJunior Fighting Maroons FencersNo team
JudoFighting Maroons JudokasFighting Maroons JudokasNo teamNo team
Taekwondo (Poomsae/Sparring)Fighting Maroons JinsFighting Maroons JinsNo teamNo team
ChessFighting Maroons WoodpushersFighting Maroons WoodpushersNo teamNo team

Note, however, that such student publications are starting to use Fighting Maroons for all teams and just specify the team thus referred to in the lede or in the first mention.

Other varsity teams:

Team logo

The oblation was used in broadcasts as the logo of the UP Fighting Maroons prior to July 2015.

Prior to July 2015, there was no official logo for the UP Fighting Maroons. The University Seal was used in the uniforms of the university's student-athletes. The UP System's registered trademarks such as the Oblation and sometimes the university seal were used to represent the university's varsity team in UAAP broadcasts. A new logo representing the varsity team had to be designed after UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Ronnie Dizer told ABS-CBN Sports, the official broadcaster of the UAAP, that the Oblation logo is no longer allowed in UAAP coverage.

On July 20, 2015, a set of six logos were released by the University of the Philippines. The new main logo uses a clenched left fist as a primary symbol with the teams initials UMP. The logo according to the university highlights the "institution’s unique history and tradition – catalysts for change and defenders of the people.” The letter "M" is incorporated at the bottom part of the fist. The M design of the main logo is named the "M Cut". A partial version of the logo which composes only of the fist with the M Cut of the main logo may be used where the name of the team or the university is not required to be shown.

In addition, an internal, secondary, and tertiary logos were also revealed. The internal logo is in shape of the Oblation, the secondary logo is a geometric shapes arranged in a form of a fist, and the tertiary logo composes of a man and a woman raising and clenching one of their fists, named Isko & Iska. The later two logos, the secondary and tertiary are used for marketing and promotional purposes.

The proposal for the new brand identity was initiated by Mandy Reyes and Pete Jimenez of Nowhere to Go but UP, an alumni organization. The design team is composed of the following: Dan Matutina (along with Bernice de Leon-Yumul, Joanna Malinis, and Raxenne Maniquiz of Plus63 Design Co.), Kay Aranzanso, Ralph Guibani, and AJ Dimarucot.

June 20, 2015, leaked proposal

The logo, unofficially released on June 15, 2015.

Prior to the July release of the new logos, one of the proposals for a new logo for the UP Fighting Maroons were unofficially released on June 15. The logo released on June 15 features a warrior holding a shield with the inscription "UP" in baybayin on his left hands aiming to throw a spear with his right hand.

The new logo was negatively received by the UP community. UP alumnus and Supreme Court spokesman Atty. Theodore Te criticized the logo and remarked that "There is a reason why there is an Oblation in every UP campus. And so many clenched fists too. That is the spirit behind the Oblation: service and sacrifice; the giving of self. It is the same spirit that moves every UP student and alum to raise a fist or offer a hand and not see any contradiction." Jojo Robles, a columnist at The Standard and another UP alumnus, agreed with Te's comments and implied that the logo violated the trademark of a vinegar manufacturer and called on the manufacturer to sue the designers.

The university clarified that the logo is still to be revised and the final version of the logo was released a month later on June 20, 2015.

Championships

The following table shows the number of championships in the UAAP (and also the NCAA). It can be noted that UP has titles in all but two (beach volleyball and 3x3) of the disciplines in the UAAP program. The University boasts successful swimming and athletics programs, with 35 and 25 titles apiece in the league (38 for swimming and 31 for athletics, if one includes NCAA). UP also holds the most titles in badminton (15) in the UAAP.

SportMen'sWomen'sBoys'Girls'TotalNotes
UAAP Sport Men's Women's Boys' Girls' Total Notes Swimming 17 17 0 2 36 Athletics 21 0 425 Football 20 1 – 21 Judo 5 12 0 – 17 Badminton 5 10 15 Volleyball 4 8 0 0 12 Basketball 4 7 1 12 Baseball 11 – 11 Table Tennis 3 6 0 0 9 Tennis 6 0 6 Fencing 1 5 0 – 6 Chess 1 3 – – 4 Softball 4 4 Taekwondo Gyeorugi 0 2 0 2 Taekwondo Poomsae 1 1 Beach volley 0 0 0 0 0 3x3 0 0 0 – 0 Note: Poomsae is a coed event. The most championships in each division are in italics.NCAA Sport Men's Women's Boys' Girls' Total Notes Basketball 4 3 7 Swimming 3 3 Tennis 1 | 0 1 Also has six uncategorized team titles in athletics.
Swimming17170236
Athletics210425
Football20121
Judo512017
Badminton51015
Volleyball480012
Basketball47112
Baseball1111
Table Tennis36009
Tennis606
Fencing1506
Chess134
Softball44
Taekwondo Gyeorugi0202
Taekwondo Poomsae11
Beach volley00000
3x30000
SportMen'sWomen'sBoys'Girls'TotalNotes
Basketball437
Swimming33
Tennis1| 01

Legend:

  • Dashes (–) mean no team.
  • Black boxes mean no championships were awarded in this event and division. In the case of NCAA, no titles were awarded in the entire time UP was part of the said league.

Streaks

Current/Active Championship Streak(s):Longest Championship Streak(s) (4 years and over): Women's Badminton – 6 (1995–2000) (UR) 1 Men's Athletics – 5 (1963–1967) and (1975–1979) Women's Swimming – 5 (2009–2013) Men's Swimming – 5 (2003–2007) 2 Women's Fencing – 5 (2000–2004) Baseball – 5 (1977–1981) (UR) 3 Men's Football – 5 (1973–1977) 4 Boys' Athletics – 4 (2010–2013) Women's Basketball – 4 (1980–1983) Men's Badminton – 4 (1997–2000) Women's Judo – 4 (1999–2002 and 2006–2009) Women's Table Tennis – 4 (1997–2000) Men's Volleyball – 4 (1977–1980)
Women's Badminton – 6 (1995–2000) (UR) 1 Men's Athletics – 5 (1963–1967) and (1975–1979) Women's Swimming – 5 (2009–2013) Men's Swimming – 5 (2003–2007) 2 Women's Fencing – 5 (2000–2004) Baseball – 5 (1977–1981) (UR) 3 Men's Football – 5 (1973–1977) 4Boys' Athletics – 4 (2010–2013) Women's Basketball – 4 (1980–1983) Men's Badminton – 4 (1997–2000) Women's Judo – 4 (1999–2002 and 2006–2009) Women's Table Tennis – 4 (1997–2000) Men's Volleyball – 4 (1977–1980)
  • ^1 (UR) means UAAP Record.
  • ^2 The team has another streak from 1996–1999 (4).
  • ^3 Includes 1 co-championship (1977 with FEU).
  • ^4 Includes 2 co-championships (both with UST).

Double championships A double crown is achieved when the collegiate (Men's and Women's) and high school (Boys' and Girls') squads win the championship of the same sport in the same year in the UAAP.

  • Collegiate: Badminton: 4 (consecutive: 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01) Swimming: 4 (1993–94, 1997–1998, 2010–2011, 2013–2014) Judo: 3 (consecutive: 1995–96 and 1996–1997, 2007–08) Volleyball: 2 (1977–78, 1979–80) Football: 1 (2015–2016) Baseball/Softball: 1 (2001–2002) Table Tennis: 1 (1998–1999)

These are "double crowns" of a different nature.

  • Men's & Boys' Basketball: 2 (NCAA: 1925–26 and 1926–27)
  • Men's & Girls' Swimming: 2 (2006–07 and 2007–08)

Rankings history

The following tables show the rankings history of the teams in the UAAP.

Collegiate Division

  • Gold border denotes overall championship season.
YearMEN'S
1996–973rd4th2nd2nd3rd2nd3rd5th1st C13rd1st2nd6th
1997–984th?1st2nd3rd1st3rd5th1st C13rd1st2nd6th
1998–995th6th1st2nd1st1st1st5th3rd2nd2nd3rd
1999–20001st
2000–013rd
2001–027th7th4th5th1st7th3rd8th7th7th6th3rd3rd
2002–036th3rd2nd6th2nd2nd1st6th5th5th2nd2nd2nd
2003–047th2nd1st2nd2nd3rd5th4th4th4th3rd1st2nd
2004–055th2nd1st4th5th3rd4th7th3rd6th2nd2nd6th
2005–064th C23rd1st2nd3rd4th6th6th5th1st1st4th4th
2006–076th2nd2nd C31st2nd3rd2nd4th6th4th6th2nd4th3rd
2007–088th4th8th1st3rd4th3rd5th5th3rd5th1st3rd4th
2008–096th2nd4th3rd6th3rd3rd5th5th3rd4th4th2nd1st
2009–108th4th3rd4th5th3rd3rd4th5th3rd4th3rd3rd6th
2010–118th3rd4th1st4th4th4th5th6th1st3rd4th6th1st
2011–128th6th4th4th3rd5th4th6th6th3rd4th4th6th1st
2012–138th5th3rd5th6th5th6th3rd2nd
2013–148th4th1st6th4th3rd3rd2nd
Year
YearWOMEN'S
1996–974th3rd2nd1st2nd1st5th1st C13rd1st1st5th
1997–983rd1st
1998–993rd5th2nd2nd1st1st6th4th2nd3rd3rd
1999–20005th
2000–014th
2001–023rd4th5th2nd2nd7th4th7th3rd5th5th3rd6th
2002–034th4th3rd4th3rd3rd4th1st1st1st3rd4th
2003–042nd5th3rd1st3rd3rd3rd7th1st2nd2nd4th4th
2004–054th6th3rd1st7th4th5th6th1st3rd1st5th2nd
2005–063rd7th2nd2nd5th3rd4th7th3rd2nd2nd2nd4th
2006–074th6th7th C32nd3rd3rd2nd3rd4th2nd2nd1st2nd3rd
2007–082nd5th8th3rd3rd3rd4th4th5th3rd2nd1st1st5th
2008–092nd7th8th2nd4th3rd4th6th5th2nd3rd1st4th5th
2009–105th6th7th1st4th5th4th5th5th4th4th1st3rd4th
2010–116th7th7th1st4th4th3rd5th6th5th4th2nd4th5th
2011–127th8th7th1st2nd1st3rd5th4th4th3rd2nd2nd4th
2012–137th4th1st2nd6th5th6th4th2nd
2013–146th8th1st1st3rd4th2nd5th
Year
YearCOED
2013–142nd
2014–151st
2015–162nd
2016–173rd
2017–184th
2018–193rd
2019–203rd
2021–224th
2022–235th
  • ^C1 Fencing and Women's Tennis were demonstration sports in 1996–97, and is not included in the calculation of points for the overall championship.
  • ^C2 This placing is due to forfeiture of La Salle games. See UAAP Season 68 for details.
  • ^C3 Beach volleyball was a demonstration sport in 2006–07, and is not included in the calculation of points for the overall championship.

High School Division

YearBOYSGIRLS
1996–976th4th6th6th?5th2nd5th
2006–074th4th4th3rd3rd3rd3rd1st
2007–087th5th4th5th3rd3rd4th1st
2008–098th6th5th4th4th2nd4th3rd
2009–108th6th5th8th6th1st5th4th4th3rd
2010–118th6th5th6th1st4th3rd4th
2011–127th6th5th5th1st5th4th4th3rd
2012–136th5th5th7th1st5th3rd
2013–147th7th5th8th3rd5th6th4th
2014–157th7th4th5th7th2nd
2015–166th7th5th8th3rd6th7th3rd5th
2016–176th8th6th8th1st6th7th3rd
2017–187th8th5th7th
2018–198th8th5th8th_3rd
2019–208th4th7th2nd6th

Team sports

Basketball

UP Fighting Maroons Season 84 Championship Team

Notable players

Volleyball

Notable players

Women

Men

Football

The UP Fighting Maroons' men's and women's football teams clinched the university's first-ever double in the UAAP in Season 78 to close out UP's hosting year with a bang.

They have an artificial football pitch venue called the UP Diliman Football Stadium or the UP Diliman Football Field. Its 68 by 105 meters (223 ft × 344 ft) pitch was installed by 2018, and has a grandstand underconstruction.

UP Men's Football UAAP Season 86 Championship Team

Macky Tobias (Captain, Best Midfielder)Ramil Bation III (Rookie of the Year, Golden Boot)Charles LobitañaGiap BoñgolanFrancis Tacardon (Vice-captain, Season MVP, Best Striker)Jose Alfonso GonzalezLiam LampayanAngelo Pagdanganan

Beach volleyball

The school has men's and women's beach volleyball teams.

See also

External links