For the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, lessons learned will be taken to heart when the remaining players and coach Goldwin Monteverde return and seek the men’s basketball crown next season.
Members of the Fighting Maroons reflected hard on how they played the finals’ series, after missing eight of nine winning opportunities in their Game 3 finals’ showdown with the La Salle Green Archers.
Their bungled chances came in the last four minutes of a memorable encounter in the recent University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball championship.
For Monteverde, who made a name for himself for steering numerous varsity teams to a lot of high school championship honors, the experience he gained from this situation and their Season 86 campaign will be treasured and cherished.
That’s because, the quest for a UAAP cage crown won’t just end with the conclusion Season 86, according to Monteverde.
The hard work, hardships, pain and sacrifices that the Fighting Maroons endured in reaching the finals and losing the title to the Green Archers, will only make Monteverde and his team stronger, and better.
And this is what Monteverde looks forward to as he forms a new squad that will once again seek the championship in Season 87 and beyond.
“Nangyayari talaga iyung miscues during game time. For me, hindi dapat talaga nangyayari ang mga ganu’n. But it happens to the best of us,” said Monteverde as he met with members of the Fighting Maroons inside their Araneta Coliseum dugout, after they took a 69-72 loss to the Green Archers in their winner-take clash last Wednesday.
The loss handed UP a second straight runner-up finish, after bowing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the fight for the season 85 title last year.
Back then, a different set of players, led by talented Fil-American wingman Zavier Lucero, was still around.
This year, big man Malick Diouf and CJ Cansino, who are on their final year of eligibility, led their campaign.
“Every year naman, ‘yan ang hahabulin natin, na makuha ang finals. But, we’ll see and find out what happened first,” said Monteverde.
Diouf came up with a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double showing in his final game for UP, which experienced back-to-back setbacks for the first and only time in their stint this season.
Francis Lopez finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocks, while Harold Alarcon added 10 points in the losing effort.
“Players who were here the last time, maraming wala na dito. Players next season will be different. Iba na ang players. Hindi ko mako-compare ang mga situation,” said Monteverde.
“Aware naman kami na hindi naman porke’t tapos na ‘yung season, wala na kaming matututunan. Even in a win, I’m sure may mga lapses kami na dapat bigyan ng pansin at both ends. Doon namin ilalagay ‘yung focus namin,” added Monteverde.