This season, Sean Manganti has been the public enemy number one for the Iskos and Iskas of the University of the Philippines. And why not? He has been the thorn in the side of the Fighting Maroons.
It all started back in October 4, 2017, when Sean Manganti nailed a putback game-winner to lift the Adamson Soaring Falcons to a 73-71 win.
Fast forward to September 26, 2018, the 6-foot-5 forward broke UP’s heart anew, knocking down the game-winner in a 69-68 thriller.
Since then, the Filipino-American has gained many bashers, especially from the UP camp.
“Well, it’s nothing personal but I would say that I have been getting a lot of hate from UP since my second game winner in the first round,” disclosed the graduating Soaring Falcon.
“I’ve been getting so much bashers.
“I got so many bashers from UP. They hate me. They hate me. If we have a game, and UP is like playing before us and I’m walking in to the arena, everybody is just… I get dirty looks,” he added.
Twenty-eight days later, Manganti was at it again.
The Fighting Maroons were able to cut the Soaring Falcons’ once-26 point lead down to just four with 1:33 left in the game. Jerom Lastimosa missed a floater, but Simon Camacho was there to gobble up the offensive board. From there, Camacho swung a pass to Jerrick Ahanmisi, who then threw a crosscourt pass to Manganti. Manganti gathered himself before knocking down the dagger that stopped UP’s rally.
Another big shot against UP, and more haters.
“I’m probably gonna get even more,” shared Manganti, who was shaking his head.
When notified about this, Bo Perasol shared that he himself has bashers within the community. What more for an opponent?
“Ako nga maraming bashers eh. Siya pa kaya na kalaban? Tama ba?” quipped Perasol
“Ako nga, kakampi na ako.
“It’s all part of that. Nobody’s going to say bad at you if you don’t count. But if you are making yourself a thorn on the side of your opponent, everybody’s going to be against you,” he added.
“He’s a thorn.“
Though ha has been on the receiving end of the heartbreaks, Perasol, a former head coach in the pros, believes that Manganti has a bright future ahead of him.
“You cannot take away anything from the guy. He’s a very good player. He’s got all the potential to make it all the way.”
Entering a one-week break, though, the one thing Manganti won’t do is check social media.
“Ya’all don’t want to see my DM box man, it’s terrible.”
And he offered his sincerest apology to UP in advance.
“No man, I got no nothing against no team. I’m sorry for what I’ve done, I’m sorry man, but if it is reversed and it’s UP, they would want to do that to us,” shared Manganti, who has been dubbed as the ‘Fighting Maroons-killer’.
“Hey, it’s a dog eat dog world.”
