The Fighting Maroons held on through the fourth quarter, scoring timely hits and making key stops. Rabeh Al-Husseini tried to get it going, but Ateneo’s shooters failed to make the collapsing UP defense pay, clogging the lane for last year’s Most Valuable Player.

In hindsight, the UP win might not be as big a surprise as it first seemed. UP is better than its 0-3 record; while its opening game against National University was a disaster, it fared much better against Adamson and De La Salle.

Also, while Ateneo is still the deepest, most talented team in the tournament, the Fighting Maroons match up well with the Blue Eagles, not just in terms of personnel but in playing style as well. UP’s shored-up frontcourt rotation of Magi Sison, Carlo Gomez, Woody Co, and Mark Juruena allows them withstand getting hammered on the block by Al-Husseini or murdered by Nonoy Baclao on the offensive boards. Plus, all of them can make outside shots to neutralize the Ateneo twin towers’ shotblocking.

Apart from that, Ateneo does not have ballhawking guards unlike other elite teams in the UAAP, save for Eric Salamat, so they cannot take advantage of UP’s shoddy backcourt.

Finally, that was a charmed performance by UP; they hit shots they never hit, made plays they never make, and displayed swagger and poise they never show.

Ateneo are still the odds-on favorites to win the championship, and this loss will serve them very well in the tournament. But while it will go back to being round these next few days, this morning the world is flat, and the UP Fighting Maroons are the best team in the UAAP.

Oh, and one more thing: Suck it, bitches!