The UP fandom will only grow stronger.
Before their current powerhouse status, the UP Fighting Maroons struggled to win in the UAAP men's basketball tournament.
From 1999 to 2017, the squad failed to qualify for the Final Four, they even tallied three winless seasons. But winning changes everything.
From the culture to the fans, it is evident that the Diliman squad is at its all-time best.
Even if there are naysayers that call the surge in support as a bandwagon, former UP hooper Mikee Reyes quickly came into defense.
Reyes got real in an Instagram story.
"Ano ngayon kung lately lang naging fan ng UP? Ang importante is madaming supporters ang UP ngayon," Reyes said.
"Gusto ba namin na ganyan sana dati? Maybe. Pero paano? 'Di kami nananalo. Kasalanan namin 'yun."
The former UP guard who experienced the university's dark years in basketball has been a solid advocate for the Fighting Maroons even after he left the program.
"Kung fan ka dati pa, salamat. Kung now lang, good job pa rin! Okay lang na di niyo kami sinuportahan dati, importante, sinusuportahan niyo sila ngayon. 'Di siya big deal. UP Fight!"
The Fighting Maroons will need their legion of fans this Sunday as they aim to close out the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball finals against the De La Salle Green Archers.