University of the Philippines head coach Goldwin Monteverde is at risk of losing another 1-0 Finals series lead in his collegiate coaching career.
Monteverde’s journey in collegiate coaching began on a high note, with a game-winning triple from JD Cagulangan to snap the Fighting Maroons’ 36-year title drought in a thrilling winner-take-all Game 3 against Ateneo in Season 84.
However, the following two seasons ended in disappointment for Monteverde and UP.
In Season 85, the Carl Tamayo and Malick Diouf-led Fighting Maroons secured a Game 1 victory in the Finals against Ateneo.
They then dropped the next two games, surrendering the historic crown they had won just six months earlier.
In Season 86, UP dominated De La Salle University in the most lopsided Finals match in 25 years – only to lose the next two games and finish with a silver medal for the second consecutive season.
Now, once again, Monteverde faces a familiar scenario.
In his fourth year with the Fighting Maroons, UP lost to defending champion La Salle, 75-76, in Game 2 of the Season 87 Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
A combination of back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao’s brilliance and crucial mistakes by second-year forward Francis Lopez kept the Game 2 curse alive for the Fighting Maroons.
With the loss, UP is now 0-5 in Game 2s of the Finals during the Final Four era.
What could have been a game to provide closure for Monteverde’s previous heartbreaks has now set up a decisive Game 3, with UP’s backs against the wall for the fourth consecutive season.
“Basketball is basketball, hindi ba? Minsan mananalo, minsan matatalo. Ang importante yung bangon,” shared the decorated UAAP champion coach.
“Alam namin na hindi pa naman tapos ang series. Alam namin na you know, we just have to keep our heads up. Pag-usapan, mag-prepare, planuhin just to get ready on Sunday.”
As the decisive Game 3 approaches, the Fighting Maroons face their fourth consecutive winner-take-all match-up, and all eyes will be on Monteverde and UP to see if they can avoid the heartbreak of their past Finals appearances.
While the team is eager to move past another Game 2 disappointment, Monteverde urged his players to accept the reality of the situation in hopes of avoiding a silver medal “three-peat.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I guess, yung reality is life goes on. Ganun naman talaga ang buhay kung minsan it will go your way, it would not. Ang importante kung ano ang ginawa mo to achieve ang gusto mong gawin,” the 53-year-old tactician explained.
He went on, “But then if you fall short siyempre… I think yung basketball is the perfect ano naman for them to be stronger, for them to learn. And definitely with this loss matututo kaming lahat. We’ll come back stronger on Sunday.
“Lahat naman it takes two games to win a championship. We’ll do our best. We’ll be ready after. Whatever happened for today’s game we’ll be ready for them.”
As the Fighting Maroons brace for one last shot at redemption, all eyes will be on Monteverde if he can close out at this level.
