An Economics graduate at the State University, Joe Lipa played with the Maroons in 1963–66. He also donned the San Miguel jersey in the MICAA in 1965–66, where he played as a power forward. Starting in 1981, he was assigned to handle the UP Maroons after serving as assistant coach way back in 1978, Lipa was sent on a basketball scholarship to the United States in 1984, where he observed the coaching prowess of famed mentor Bobby Knight of Indiana University during sessions at the University of Southern California. He made the trip through the help of the UP Sports Foundation, courtesy of the UP President, and his Sigma Rho fraternity brothers. In 1986, Joe led his alumni, the UP Maroons to its first UAAP championship after 47 years.
