The UP Baseball Team continues their second-round campaign in the UAAP Season 88 Baseball Tournament in a precarious position. With a 1–5 record after their Round 2 opener, the Fighting Maroons have shown flashes of talent and danger, but their Final Four hopes remain under threat. Every remaining game will be crucial as UP looks to turn potential into results and prove that they can still contend.
Photo by: Jake Rovin Morales
The lineup features one of the most complete rosters, anchored by 33rd SEA Games gold medalists Razhley Santos and Kennedy Torres, alongside head coach Ricardo “Iking” Jimenez, who brings gold medal–winning experience. Meanwhile, a promising group of rookies adds depth to a core of third-year players, with returning seniors VJ Mangahas and Luciano Asuncion providing leadership.
The pieces are already in place. Chemistry is no longer a concern, and the squad has proven it can perform competitively. Off the field, that connection remains one of its greatest strengths.
Mangahas shared, “Isa sa mga reason kung bakit masaya kami naglalaro is siguro mas close kami as a team. Close rin naman kami nung mga past seasons pero this team, mas nakikita ko yung pagkakaisa namin, yung eagerness na manalo. Siguro yun lang talaga yung pinakakulang nung mga past seasons.”
Photo by: Angeline San Pedro
Santos, the co-captain, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that the team’s bond has proven to be a positive aspect despite their inconsistencies.
“Yung bonding namin as a team, na kahit maraming errors during games hindi namin sinisisi yung isa’t isa. Mas binuild namin ang chemistry namin off the field, like sabay-sabay kaming kumakain, pag may free time kami, pumupunta kami sa coffee shop para mag-bond ganun. And sana mag-grow pa siya at magamit sa 2nd round.”
However, that cohesion has yet to translate into results on the field consistently.
In the past seasons, UP has often struggled to keep their momentum from the start. Early leads or late rallies frequently slip away as mistakes on defense and lapses in execution let opponents take control. Even though the team knows this has been a recurring problem, they have yet to find a way to fix it, and it remains a hurdle to overcome.
Santos acknowledged the urgency of addressing these issues heading into the second round.
“Siyempre, nakakadisappoint yung performance namin nung first round. Need namin mag-adjust agad para sa upcoming second. Lahat ng games sa second round, dapat manalo kami para makapasok sa finals. So kailangan magtrabaho nang magtrabaho. Siguro yung need namin i-adjust sa 2nd round is to be consistent sa hitting namin at less namin yung errors sa defense.”
That inconsistency was evident early in the season. In their opening game against the DLSU Green Batters, they jumped to a four-run lead in the first inning but could not hold on, losing narrowly 5-6.
The next loss to defending champions NU further exposed their inconsistencies as the Fighting Maroons yielded 10 hits and committed five errors in a 13–2 mercy-rule defeat, struggling to contain the Bulldogs after early opportunities slipped away.
Photo by: Jake Rovin Morales
At their best, however, the Fighting Maroons remain a high-powered squad. Their 24–7 win over UST highlighted their offensive ceiling, with Daniel Badrina delivering a steady outing on the mound and Aaron Nicha and Eman Javier combining for 11 RBIs—proof that when UP executes, they can overwhelm opponents.
The challenge has been maintaining that level throughout the game.
Photo by: Jethro Villafuerte
When UP finally faced the Adamson Soaring Falcons, the team’s eagerness to bounce back was evident, but it did not translate into results. UP used five pitchers—Torres, Badrina, third-year Ram Matanguihan, and rookies Carlmark Morales and Fernando Claro III—but all could not manage to secure the final out immediately, allowing Adamson 14 runs while scoring only five. Despite racking up 11 hits to Adamson’s 10, UP could not convert their opportunities, and nine errors proved costly.
Photo by: Trisha Llaguno
Their scheduled match against Ateneo was postponed due to weather conditions that affected the field. When the long-awaited Battle of Katipunan finally took place, the Fighting Maroons showed that they could hit and fight with intensity. Ateneo scored consistently throughout the game, but UP rallied to put up 12 runs, including three in the final inning. The late surge was proof that the UP has the talent and resilience to compete at a high level, and their current standing does not fully reflect their potential. Smart adjustments by the coaching staff on the mound, infield, and outfield helped spark the rally, giving the team something to capitalize on as they push forward in the season.
In their Round 2 opener against DLSU, the UP Baseball Team faltered against a resurgent La Salle side, absorbing an 11–0 mercy-rule loss after being limited to just four hits. The lone bright spot came from third-year LM Basañes, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, but UP was unable to generate sustained offense.
Despite these setbacks, UP’s standing reflects both their potential and their inconsistency. The team has the hitters, the pitching depth, and the guidance and support of a coaching staff that makes timely adjustments. What remains is the ability to put together complete performances.
Photo by: Trisha Llaguno
As the second round unfolds, UP must find the right fit and sustain it, turning promise into production. They must convert strong stretches into full-game execution, minimize defensive lapses, and maintain consistent offense.
With the bond they have built and the talent they possess, the UP Baseball Team has the tools to win games. They now need self-confidence and must turn their potential into results. The margin is slim, but if they can find that edge and perform consistently, they can keep their Final Four hopes alive.
Catch them in action every Wednesday and Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium!
Round 2 Schedule:
- March 22, 2026- UP vs. NU (1st Game)
- March 25, 2026- UP vs. Ateneo (1st Game)
- March 29, 2026- UP vs. UST (3rd Game)
- April 5, 2026- UP vs. AdU (2nd Game)
*The games start at 7 a.m.
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