From Gilas Youth to La Salle Green Hills to the University of the Philippines, the trio of Seven Gagate, Joshua Coronel, and Luis Pablo always stuck together through the highs and lows of their young basketball journeys.
But after suiting up for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Pablo made a pivotal decision — to return to his green roots with the De La Salle Green Archers.
During his one-year residency with La Salle, Pablo participated in several off-season tournaments for the Green and White. However, matchups against his former teammates and longtime friends Gagate and Coronel were rare, as both were sidelined due to injuries.
Coronel tore his ACL in February 2024, while Gagate sustained a fractured hand, keeping both players out of UAAP Season 87 and other pre-season tournaments that UP joined.
That changed on the afternoon of May 31, in front of a packed crowd at the Playtime Filoil Centre. The trio — once teammates — finally shared the court again, only this time on opposing sides.
It was their first encounter in what has become the modern-day rivalry between La Salle and UP, the same programs that battled in the last two UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals.
Beyond La Salle’s 106–99 victory, it was a personally meaningful moment for Pablo, who walked off the court with a wide smile, grateful to finally reunite — even as opponents — with Gagate and Coronel.
(C) Nowhere To Go But UP
“Kanina, sobrang saya sa feeling kasi nagkasama-sama ulit kami sa court. Parang ito yung first time na nakumpleto kami ulit ‘eh. Hindi kami magkakampi, pero parang masaya ako kasi nagkasama kami sa court,” Pablo told Tiebreaker Times.
“We all know naman si Josh na he just got back from an injury, kaya sobrang thankful ako na nakita ko na siya maglaro kanina. Pati kay Seven na teammate ko rin nung high school. Parang oo, magkakalaban kami, pero sobrang saya na magkakasama kami sa court,” he added.
Pablo delivered a solid performance in La Salle’s second win of the preseason, tallying 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting along with six rebounds and three assists.
While Pablo is gradually finding his rhythm in a Green Archers team adjusting to life without two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, he also expressed joy in witnessing Gagate and Coronel take promising steps in their return from injury.
Gagate finished with eight points on an efficient 4-of-6 clip, adding two rebounds and an assist. Coronel, while scoreless, provided glimpses of his court vision and playmaking as UP continues to rebuild following the departure of Season 87 Finals MVP JD Cagulangan.
“Pagpatuloy lang nila kasi kita ko naman na grabe yung na-iimprove na nila sa laro nila ‘eh. Parang nakaka-proud lang na nandito na kami sa collegiate level. Don’t stop lang dapat sa amin palagi. Kahit ano naman mangyari, supportahan kami palagi,” Pablo said with pride.
