Terrence Fortea is just a winner.
From his days at National University–Nazareth School in UAAP Seasons 78 to 82 to all five years at the University of the Philippines, one thing has been constant: where Fortea goes, Finals appearances follow.
And on Wednesday night, in his last Final Four game, he proved it once again.
University of the Philippines is heading to the UAAP Collegiate Men’s Basketball Finals for the fifth straight season.
All the lessons from his previous championship runs have molded the now-24-year-old Fortea into a smarter, steadier, and more decisive player, especially when the game is on the line.
With 48.5 seconds left, Fortea pulled up for a transition three — an audacious shot in a do-or-die moment — and buried it.
That triple became the dagger in UP’s 82-81 escape over the UST Growling Tigers, sending the Fighting Maroons to the Season 88 Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Siguro, masaya nga, and na-shoot ko yung tira na ’yun, pero siguro mindset lang rin na maging ready pa rin kung ma-libre. Yun, yun pa rin,” Fortea said after the game, calm and composed despite the biggest shot of the night.
“Yun nga, sabi ni Coach Gold (Monteverde), yung experience yung best teacher. Thankful din na na-experience namin yun dahil alam namin na magagamit namin yun sa susunod na level namin as a player,” he added, reflecting on his first four Finals trips.
The graduating, 6-foot-1 marksman delivered a well-rounded performance: eight points, six assists, and five rebounds. He finished with a team-best +15 in just 12 minutes and 49 seconds on the floor.
But even with his fifth Finals appearance locked in, Fortea insisted there was nothing to celebrate yet.
For him and the Fighting Maroons, the only goal is clear: complete the back-to-back and walk away as three-time champions.
“Siguro ako, hindi ko masyado iniisip. Preparation pa rin talaga yung pinaka-focus ko. Wala yun sa last na naming year na magkakasama,” he said.
“Yun pa rin yung pinakagoal, yung pinakafocus namin—yung makuha yung back-to-back.”
At the end of Season 88, UP will bid goodbye to five key players — Fortea, Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres — all of whom spent five years at UP.
Fortea’s hope? That the end of their road comes with one more crown on top of the Maroon 5’s heads.
