Trending nationwide at worldwide ang hashtag na #UAAP81Finals ngayong Sabado ng hapon, December 1, dahil sa ginanap na UAAP Season 81 best-of-three finals series sa pagitan ng Ateneo Blue Eagles at UP Fighting Maroons.
Idinaos ang Game 1 sa Mall of Asia Arena kung saan lagpas dalawampung libong mga estudyante at guro mula sa dalawang pamantasan ang dumalo.
Nanalo ang Ateneo Blue Eagles (88) laban sa UP Fighting Maroons (79).
Makasaysayan ang laro dahil ito ang hudyat ng pagbabalik ng UP Fighting Maroons sa UAAP finals matapos ang mahigit tatlong dekada.
Sakaling manalo naman ang Ateneo Blue Eagles sa laban, magsisilbi itong ikatlong pagkapanalo nila nang sunud-sunod sa UAAP finals.
Sa Instagram, nagpaabot ng suporta si Lea Salonga sa kanyang alma mater na Ateneo de Manila.
Sabi niya sa kanyang post, “This is where we are at the half. STREEEEEEES!!!!!! #OneBigFight #AteneoBlueEagles #Game1.”
View this post on InstagramThis is where we are at the half. STREEEEEEEESS!!!!!! #OneBigFight #AteneoBlueEagles #Game1
Pagkatapos ng laro sabi ni Lea, “Game 1, done!!! #OneBigFight #BattleOfKatipunan.”
Game 1, done!!! #OneBigFight #BattleOfKatipunan
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) December 1, 2018
Personal namang dumalo sa MOA-Arena si Christian Bautista na kilala bilang alumnus ng University of the Philippines (UP).
Pati si Vicki Belo at ang asawa nitong si Hayden Kho ay dumalo rin sa game.
Graduate ng UP ang respetadong cosmetic surgeon.
Sabi ni Vicki sa kanyang post sa Instagram, “So excited on our way to the UAAP UP vs. Ateneo game.”
View this post on InstagramSo excited on Our way to the UAAP UP vs. Ateneo game @dochayden @alicegeduardo @smalllaude .
Sabi pa niya sa isa pang post pagkatapos ng laban, "I’m so proud of the #upfightingmaroons.
"You played with your heart today and that’s all that matters.
"Looking forward to Game 2 and the championship.
"Congratulations to #Ateneo especially #belobaby @3rd_e."
Nagpakita rin ng suporta si Agot Isidro na graduate ng UP.
Sabi niya sa kanyang tweet, "UP Fighting Maroons played with hearts bigger than our campus. So so proud! Sulit ang paos! May Game 3 pa, guys! Kitakits.”
UP Fighting Maroons played with hearts bigger than our campus. ?????? So so proud! Sulit ang paos!
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) December 1, 2018
May Game 3 pa, guys! Kitakits ????????????
Ikinatuwa rin ni Chris Tiu ang pagkapanalo ng Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Sabi niya sa kanyang tweet, “Fantastic Game 1! Ateneo showed great composure vs a fearless and inspired UP squad.
"Couldn’t contain myself from cheering at home w/ every Thirdy highlight, Nieto clutch basket & those 2 Tyler Tio triples! OBF!!”
Fantastic Game 1! Ateneo showed great composure vs a fearless and inspired UP squad. Couldn’t contain myself from cheering at home w/ every Thirdy highlight, Nieto clutch basket & those 2 Tyler Tio triples! OBF!!
— Chris Tiu (@chris_tiu) December 1, 2018
Samantala, kahit graduate ng De La Salle University ang singer na si Gary Valenciano, nag-post naman siya sa Twitter ng kanyang obserbasyon habang ongoing ang laro kanina.
ADMU is strong indeed but they haven’t met a team with as much heart as UP. #UAAP81Finals
— GARY VALENCIANO (@GaryValenciano1) December 1, 2018
Even in the game against ADU, UP did make mistakes but they always have an uncanny way of recovering. Here they are again coming from 12pts down against ADMU. Now they’re just down by 1 at the half. ADMU cannot afford to make mistakes against the heart of this team. #UAAP81Finals
— GARY VALENCIANO (@GaryValenciano1) December 1, 2018
Gaganapin ang Game 2 ng finals sa darating na Miyerkules, December 5, sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.