Where Do the NBA Rankings Today Place Your Favorite Team?

The rain was tapping a steady rhythm against my office window, matching the gloomy feeling I’d carried since Wednesday night. See, I’ve been a UP Fighting Maroons fan since my college days—back when hope was more abundant than victories. But this season felt different. Or so I thought, until last Wednesday’s game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons. I rewatched the final quarter this morning, coffee in hand, wincing as our boys fumbled that last possession. Sixty-two to fifty-nine. A three-point loss that stung more than any blowout ever could. It’s funny, isn’t it? How a single game can send you spiraling, wondering where do the NBA rankings today place your favorite team if they were in that league? Not that the Maroons are NBA material—far from it—but that question lingers whenever I see a talented squad underperform.

I remember walking into a local sports bar last month, rocking my vintage UP jersey, and overhearing two guys debate whether the Maroons had finally turned a corner. We’d strung together a couple of impressive wins, and the vibe was electric. Fast forward to now, and it’s an uncharacteristic slump for the Fighting Maroons that players and coaches found themselves tongue-tied after that painful 62-59 defeat to the Soaring Falcons. I keep replaying that post-game press conference in my head—the coach stumbling over his words, the star guard just shaking his head. They looked as lost as I felt. And honestly, it reminded me of watching my nephew’s high school team after a tough loss—that same raw, confused energy.

If you’ve followed college hoops here, you know UP isn’t usually a powerhouse. We’ve had our moments, sure, but consistency? That’s been the real challenge. This season, though, we were supposed to break through. With a 7-3 record before that Falcons game, folks were whispering about championship potential. Now? I’m checking stats at 2 a.m., trying to figure out if we’ll even make the playoffs. Our field goal percentage dropped to 38% in that last outing, and don’t get me started on turnovers—16 of them, if you can believe it. Sixteen! That’s nearly one every two and a half minutes. It’s no wonder we collapsed.

Let me tell you, being a die-hard fan messes with your perspective. My buddy Mark, who’s all about the Golden State Warriors, texted me yesterday asking, “Where do the NBA rankings today place your favorite team?” I laughed because my “favorite team” isn’t in the NBA—it’s right here, breaking my heart in the UAAP. But it got me thinking: if the Maroons were magically transported to the NBA, we’d be dead last. Like, 30th out of 30 teams, no question. Our offense sputters more than a beat-up car on a rainy day, and our defense, while gritty, just isn’t built for that level. But hey, that’s part of the charm, right? Loving a team that’s flawed, human.

I ran into one of the assistant coaches at a cafe near campus last week—before the loss, when optimism still flowed freely. He mentioned how the team was focusing on mental toughness, cutting down on those late-game jitters. And for a while, it worked. We clawed back from a 15-point deficit against FEU earlier this month, winning by four. But then came the Falcons game, and all that progress seemed to vanish. It’s an uncharacteristic slump, he’d said, and I believed him. Now, I’m not so sure. Maybe this is just who we are—a team that fights hard but hasn’t learned how to close.

You want my honest opinion? I think we’re too reliant on our top scorer, Juan Gomez de Liaño. The guy’s a beast, averaging 18 points per game, but when he’s off, the whole squad falters. Against Adamson, he shot 5 for 18 from the field. That’s 27.7%, if my math is right. Not exactly MVP numbers. And the bench? They contributed a measly 12 points total. Meanwhile, Adamson’s second unit dropped 24. See, that’s the difference between good teams and great ones—depth. It’s why I always chuckle when people ask where do the NBA rankings today place your favorite team, because over there, one star can carry you, but here? You need a village.

I’ll keep cheering, though. That’s what we do, us Maroons fans. We wear our colors proudly, even when the losses pile up. Next game is against the UE Red Warriors, and I’ve already cleared my schedule. Maybe we’ll turn it around, maybe not. But every time I check the standings and see UP sitting at 7-4, clinging to that fourth seed, I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Because in the end, it’s not about where do the NBA rankings today place your favorite team—it’s about where your heart is. And mine’s right here, with the Fighting Maroons, through every slump and every triumph.