Camille Naredo

UP's Gani Stevens at the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball press conference, September 15, 2025 in Greenhills. UAAP Media

UP's Gani Stevens at the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball press conference, September 15, 2025 in Greenhills.

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UAAP Season 88 

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757935949723UAAP88 Basketball Presscon - Ganni Stevens-01330.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UP&#x27;s Gani Stevens at the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball press conference, September 15, 2025 in Greenhills. UAAP Media"/>UP&#x27;s Gani Stevens at the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball press conference, September 15, 2025 in Greenhills. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- Ahead of the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s basketball tournament, many teams -- including defending champions University of the Philippines -- witnessed many changes in their line-ups.The Fighting Maroons, who will play host school University of Santo Tomas in their first match, will be defending their title without the services of 6-foot-10 stalwart Quentin Millora-Brown following his decision to go pro with the  Macau Black Bears last July.Seven Gagate also departed the team back in August for De La Salle University. This leaves Gani Stevens, Sean Alter and foreign student athlete Francis Nnoruka as UP&#x27;s choices in the four and five spots.Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Stevens said that the departures of both Millora-Brown and Gagate can be seen as a positive for the team as it helps them take their game up a notch.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/13/uaap-again-the-hunted-up-locked-in-for-title-retention-bid-in-season-88-0900">READ: Again the hunted, UP locked in for title-retention bid in Season 88</a></div>&quot;I think it&#x27;s good because when players like them [Millora-Brown and Gagate] leave, it forces us to step up. Because if we don&#x27;t, everyone&#x27;s gonna suffer and no one&#x27;s going to help us,&quot; Stevens said on Monday at the sidelines of the UAAP Season 88 press conference.&quot;I also think it&#x27;s gonna help me and my other bigs too like Sean Alter [because it also] gave them a signal to step up because they know that they&#x27;re going to have to be our anchors too,&quot; he added.When asked about what he wants to accomplish as UP&#x27;s big man in the years to come, Stevens says that taking the big leap forward and maintaining what his kuyas started was their top priority as a team.&quot;For me personally I just want to take the next big leap as a player trying to lead the categories like in rebounding and [by making] the Mythical Five,&quot; said the UP big man, who averaged 2.15 points and 2.54 rebounds per game last year.&quot;I think we all want to keep playing hard and see where that  gets us, besides championships, [we want to] just continue that winning culture and legacy here,&quot; he added.Stevens and the Fighting Maroons will be starting their quest for a second straight UAAP crown as they take on Nic Cabañero and the UST Growling Tigers on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavillion.

Ahead of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament, many teams -- including defending champions University of the Philippines -- witnessed many changes in their line-ups.

Ahead of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament, many teams -- including defending champions University of the Philippines -- witnessed many changes in their line-ups.

UAAP: After Millora-Brown and Gagate's exits, Gani Stevens steps up as UP's anchor in the paint

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UAAP: After Millora-Brown and Gagate's exits, Gani Stevens steps up as UP's anchor in the paint

Johann Paulus Coronel,

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

Published Sep 15, 2025 07:34 PM PHT

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UAAP Season 88

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