When the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball awarding ceremony was held last Wednesday, gone were the passionate thousands of passionate Adamsonians who flocked to the same venue last November 28.
This left graduating Soaring Falcon Sean Manganti – who has been known as the UP killer over the last two years – prone to the jeers of the Iskos that flocked the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
But then something magical happened.
When the 6-foot-5 utility forward received the Appeton Most Improved Player, he was greeted with cheers.
Then, when he received his second award – the PSBankable Player of the Season plum – the cheers from the UP community grew louder.
Respect begets respect, as they say.
“Big shout-out to the UP community for showing me love,” tweeted Manganti, who averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals during the season.
“Guess we have a love and hate relationship.”
Maganti received PHP 150,000 in total as a reward. But the moment itself was priceless, and he will carry it with him as he moves on to the next stage in his life.
But Manganti will still have a chance to break UP’s hearts once again if the stars align for them in the PBA D-League.
