The 30-game losing streak of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors at the UAAP men’s basketball tournament ended when it defeated Adamson University Soaring Falcons with a score of 53-47 last November 7, 2026 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
One word repeatedly appeared on social media, mostly from alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP), following UE’s win: Bonfire.
UE’s losing streak eclipsed the 27-game skid once held by the UP Fighting Maroons, leaving Adamson’s 35-game losing streak (1999-2002) as the longest ever recorded.
UP famously lit a bonfire at the Sunken Garden to celebrate just one win (against Adamson 77-64) that ended a painful 27-game losing streak. Rather than celebrating a title, it symbolized closing a long chapter of losses and welcoming hope.
The last time UE won a match was when they defeated the National University (NU) Bulldogs on October 26, 2024 in Season 87.
Their 30 consecutive defeats stand as the second-longest losing streak in UAAP history.
UE’s losing streak overshadowed its 18 championship titles.
As of 2023, UE tied with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) as the second most successful team in UAAP men’s basketball, with 18 titles each.
UE holds the record for the longest senior men’s basketball championship run with a 7-peat from Seasons 20 to 35 (1965-71) as well as 16 consecutive Finals appearances from Season 20 to 34 (1957-72).
UE’s 18 senior men’s basketball titles include Seasons 20-21 (1957-58), 23 (1960), 25-26 (1962-63), 20 to 35 (1965 to 1971), 37-38 (1974-75), 41(1978), 45 (1982), and 47-48 (1984- 85).
UE and UST has the longest finals match-ups between two teams from Season 27 to 34 (1964 -71).
UE has the second championship drought of 41 years (since 1985) next to Adamson for 49 years (since 1977).
The UP Fighting Maroons won their first championship in Season 2 (1939-40) but it was a title they shared with Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Sto. Tomas ( UST).
On October 6, 1962, National Artist Kidlat Tahimik, then Student Union president, narrated that the UP Parrots (the old name of Fighting Maroons) reached the Season 25 Men’s Basketball Finals against UE in a single-game championship match at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UE won with a score of 70-55.
UP followed up its Season 2 title 47 years later in Season 49 (1986) as a solo champion. Then there was the 36 years of drought until its third title in Season 84 (2022). It reclaimed the title in Season 87 (2024).
In 1986, or 47 years after its first trophy, UP won over UE Red Warriors under the guidance of legendary coach Joe Lipa with star players Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano. It was the same year when Edsa People Power happened wherein the dictator was ousted.
A year later, I entered UP Diliman as a freshman in 1987 but I still felt the championship euphoria as I often see Benjie Paras around the campus.
Sadly, interest in the games dwindled. As chief photographer of Philippine Collegian from 1989 to 1991, I remember my coverages of the games with very few, if at all, UP denizens inside the playing venues, mostly as required for PE classes.
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UP’s performance could be described as uneventful, even dismal, save for two seasons back in 1996 and 1997 when the team reached the Final Four.
The UP community grew indifferent. And with a string of bottom-dwelling and sometimes winless seasons in 2007, 2010 and 2013, the community seemingly lost all interest. Aspirations towards a championship fizzled out.
In Season 77 (2014), UP lit up a bonfire at the Sunken Garden to mark one win after a 27-game losing streak.
Chancellor Michael Tan personally lighted the bonfire using a torch. Stressing that UP excels ‘not just in academics,’ he called for continuous support to the Varsity. He added that ever since UP became the national university, the Fighting Maroons are no longer representing their alma mater alone, rather the whole nation.
A UP colleague aptly said that it wasn’t self-deprecation or sarcasm, but more than celebrating that one single win, it was to kick out and say goodbye to the long season of loss and welcome new beginnings with hope and a promise to get out of the slump.
UP won just one game, but that one game meant everything. It changed the mindset of the players, changed the perception of the UP community towards the athletes and gave birth to the biggest and strongest grassroots support base for the team, the NowheretogobutUP movement.
In Season 81 (2018), UP’s bid for the championship trophy unfortunately ended when it lost to Ateneo.
In Season 82 (2019), UP was defeated by UST during the Final Four round.
In Season 85 (2022), the Maroons emerged as champions.
In Season 86 and 88, UP lost in the championship rounds to De La Salle.
In Season 87 (2024), it reclaimed the title.
The cheer ‘UP Fight’ resonated in every game as men and women who solidly believed in the team, stood by their side in their journey.
Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786.