7. KA-BOOM
YEAR: 1999
Aside from being stripped of a crown, four straight runner-up finishes marked La Salle’s early 1990s UAAP campaign. Finally, in 1998, they were finally able to get over the hump, winning over their tormentors, FEU, the year before. But repeating as champs was a whole different thing, they would later learn. Up against another rival and former tormentor, the UST Growling Tigers, La Salle had to go the full distance to snag the crown. The dying seconds of the deciding game three of that series proved to be the climax of the on-court drama. Down by two with 19.5 seconds remaining, La Salle crossed the half-court looking to equalize. The first option, gunner Renren Ritualo, would find himself shackled to a corner. Desperate for a shot, the ball wound up in point guard Dino Aldeguer’s hands at the top of the key. He hurriedly took a jumper, way behind the three-point line, that swished the net with a foul to boot. Although Aldeguer failed to complete the improbable four-point play, La Salle emerged victorious in overtime, 78-75, claiming their first UAAP back-to-back titles.


8 BRAINS AND BRAWNS
YEAR: 1986
Here’s a memory that every University of the Philippines’ student loves to reminisce on—especially now that their Fighting Maroons only seem to have a fighting spirit good enough for paltry records. Twenty-two years ago, led by the explosive troika of Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Eric Altamirano, the Fighting Maroons ended UP’s then 48-year championship drought by upending the defending champions UE Red Warriors, 98-89. The feat will also be remembered for being one of the few occurrences that a team with a twice-to-beat incentive in the finals was beaten.