UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES FIGHTING MAROONS — FACEBOOK.COM/WEARETHEUAAP

REIGNING champion University of the Philippines (UP) opens its title defense in the centerpiece men’s basketball tournament of the UAAP Season 88 against host University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Sept. 21 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m. with the Fighting Maroons eyeing a flying start for back-to-back title bid with the debuting Rey Remogat after the first match between the National University (NU) and the University of the East (UE) at 2 p.m. 

UP beat De La Salle University, 2-1, in last year’s finals for its second title in four straight finals appearances under coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The first salvo of the back-to-back opening weekend features Far Eastern University (FEU) against Ateneo de Manila University at 2 p.m. then La Salle against Adamson University at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.

Before that, Santo Tomas will usher in the new season with a theme or “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action” in grand ceremony on Sept. 19 at the UST Grandstand and Open Field featuring a mass, a program then a finale concert.

The same theme will be introduced as the official UAAP theme song written by assistant professor Louell Baldoza of UST Institute of Religion and interpreted by Santo Tomas alumnus, OPM singer-songwriter and Callalily band frontman Kean Cipriano.

Around 30,000 people are expected to watch the UAAP opening, a number similar to the annual “Paskuhan” concert in December. — John Bryan Ulanday