The UP Fighting Maroons currently enjoy a 2-win and 5-loss standing in the UAAP Season 71 Men’s Basketball league. (I say enjoy because the team’s standing is way better than last year’s 0-14. ) They snatched their first win during their opening game, which was against the NU Bulldogs. Their second win was against the Adamson Falcons, whom they played against for their closing game for the first round of the league. Both games were played at the Araneta Coliseum.

What a way to end the first round, huh? If you believe in luck, you would say that the Big Dome is the Maroons’ lucky charm. Another way of seeing it is that the Maroons are good at starting and ending things, but they struggle with what’s in between.

But here’s a more realistic angle: the Maroons won their first and last game, which were both played in the Big Dome because their opponents for those two games were the teams with the lowest standings. But this is not to downgrade the Maroons, the Bulldogs and the Falcons, for each team has its own share of great moments in the UAAP.

Well, whichever reason, I am proud that the Maroons managed a couple of wins during the first round. They still have seven more games to play, and these games won’t get any easier. But, the Maroons are not called the “Fighting Maroons” for nothing. Their getting to the final four may be a long shot, but I’m positive that they are going to play the rest of their games like they are there to win it.

With the things that the team lacks as of the moment, I guess each of the Fighting Maroons’ display of passion, and a little luck is good enough for the team and the fans as well.