Remember the pain.
This was the message University of the Philippines head coach Goldwin Monteverde delivered to the Fighting Maroons ahead of their rubber match against archrival De La Salle University on Sunday.
The battle unfolded before a record-breaking crowd of 25,248 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Monteverde’s collegiate coaching journey began with a historic triumph in Season 84, ending UP’s 36-year championship drought.
However, the next two seasons brought nothing but heartbreak and bitter disappointment.
The pain of losing three consecutive Game 2s in the UAAP Finals weighed heavily on Monteverde, especially when his Fighting Maroons were on the cusp of cementing their reign in Diliman.
Their latest defeat stung the most.
In Game 2 last Wednesday, UP squandered a commanding 71-63 lead with just 5:12 left, undone by costly mistakes from Francis Lopez and the brilliance of De La Salle’s back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao.
The result forced a decisive winner-take-all Game 3.
This time, however, Monteverde and the Fighting Maroons exorcised their demons. They refused to settle for silver, dethroning the Green Archers with a gritty 66-62 victory to claim the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball crown.
“We’ve been here. Remember the pain of last season because that should make us stronger and mas motivation sa amin ‘yon to bounce back to whatever happened over the season and even in the past seasons,” said Monteverde, who lost both of his parents prior to the tournament.
“Siyempre, yung pinag-uusapan namin as a team na come back stronger next season and prepare well after back-to-back silver medals. I really have to give it sa mga boys namin, they really worked hard for this season,” he continued.
“I’m very very happy with this season. Happy din ako kasi nakita ko yung iyak ng mga team last season tapos makita yung saya nila ngayon, para sa akin, walang kapalit ‘yon ‘eh.”
The Fighting Maroons displayed immense resilience, withstanding every rally the Green Archers threw their way. They denied La Salle a second consecutive men’s basketball title and thwarted Quiambao’s hopes for a storybook exit in green and white.
UP seemed in control, building a 14-point lead, 54-40, in the third quarter, following a pair of free throws from team captain Gerry Abadiano. But La Salle – fueled by CJ Austria, Joshua David, Quiambao, and Mike Phillips – mounted a fierce comeback, cutting the deficit to just three, 61-58.
In the tense final minutes, it was Francis Lopez and Quentin Millora-Brown who delivered the clutch plays.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Lopez nailed a crucial top-of-the-key triple, while Millora-Brown sealed the game with ice-cold free throws. The two capped off UP’s redemption arc and secured Monteverde’s second UAAP title in four seasons.
Monteverde’s first championship in Season 84 lasted only 220 days, as the COVID-19 pandemic truncated celebrations. This time, he and the Fighting Maroons have a full year to savor their hard-earned glory.
“I just felt like they really refused to lose. Whatever happens, yung habol nila, yung paglaban sa screens and picks. We have some tall players but then again, seeing them really go for the rebound, and with all the other players giving that kind of effort tonight, talagang gusto nilang kunin,” said the 53-year-old coach.
“Very thankful ako especially sa mga bata na you know, from the start ng season after namin matalo last year. Araw-araw, tinatrabaho nila, how they worked hard for it. Even during the course of the season, ‘yung ups and downs namin, I’m very proud of each and everyone sa team namin. Thankful din ako sa coaching staff na wala ring tigil,” he expressed.
“Pag wala sila, di ko rin magagawa ‘yung dapat kong gawin.”
