The newly completed UP Men’s Basketball Team Gym (beside the UP Gym) was inaugurated on June 15, 2013, exactly one week before the Alumni Homecoming. The seed money came about 20 years ago from then Senator John Osmeña. Unfortunately, the donation was just enough for the flooring and the roof. Thus, for two decades the UP-MBT Gym’s future hung in the balance – do or make do.
An all-star team was finally assembled to finish the job – in the likes of Sonny Belmonte, Manny Pangilinan, Robina Gokongwei-Pe of Robinsons Handyman and Robinsons Supermarkets, Raffy Villavicencio of Filoil, Doy Vea of Digitel (Sun Cellular), Alpha Sigma Fraternity; and, of course, the UPAA, represented by UP-MBT co-managers Chitong Rivera, Bong Somera, Bert Mendoza, Rico Domingo and Rey Madrid. .
The new gym augurs well for the UP Fighting Maroons. Since practicing in the facility, they have racked up a string of victories in pre-UAAP tournaments.