Captain Gerry Abadiano reflects on Coach Goldwin Monteverde’s winning philosophy as UP makes their fifth-straight UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals.
Another year, another chance at the gold for University of the Philippines.
After surviving a gutsy stand from the UST Growling Tigers, the UP Fighting Maroons are once again back in familiar territory, being the first team to punch their ticket to the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Finals.
This now marks the fifth consecutive finals appearance for State U, all coming under the Midas touch of head coach Goldwin Monteverde, and the “Maroon 5” core composed of Harold Alarcon, captain Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres.
“Sobrang grateful kami na naging part kami ng ganitong experience. Ngayong game, sobrang saya lang as a team captain, as a team din, masaya kami. Pero hindi pa kami tapos,” Abadiano told The GAME in an exclusive interview after their thrilling 82-81 win over the Growling Tigers.
UP, under Monteverde’s guidance, has won two titles since Season 84, and will now have the chance to go back-to-back following their redemption campaign in Season 87 last year.
But what exactly is the secret behind State U and Coach Gold’s winning culture? For Abadiano, it actually goes deeper than the X’s and O’s of basketball.
“Regarding sa sistema na ina-apply ni Coach Gold sa team, siguro ‘yung sinasabi niya lang is everytime na kapag papasok kami sa loob ng court, or saang team man ‘yan, bigay lang namin ‘yung best namin, best effort namin,” Abadiano said.
“100 percent sa pag-iisip namin, sa ginagawa namin every time na nasa game kami and ‘yun siguro ‘yung isang bagay na ini-instill samin ni Coach Gold kahit saan team [kami] mapupunta.”
According to Abadiano, a key part in Monteverde’s philosophy is about basketball’s nature as an “imperfect game” — a phrase that has been echoed since their title-winning days back as Nazareth School-NU Bullpups.
Given this humble outlook on the sport, Abadiano is the least surprised about State U’s current form of success in the UAAP Men’s Basketball scene.
“Parang simula nung pagkabata, tinuturuan na kami ni Coach Gold kung paano talaga maglaro, paano ba talaga magbasketball. Hindi siya magiging patas sa mga bagay–bagay sa loob ng court. Hindi siya perfect talaga…‘yung basketball kasi imperfect game,” said the Fighting Maroons’ captain.
“Ang tinuturo niya samin is kung paano namin i-handle ‘yung mga challenges sa loob ng court. Kung paano kami mag-respond as a team and as an individual, ‘yun ang tinuturo niya sa amin.”
Unlike their past UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals, Season 88 will hold more weight for Abadiano and the Fighting Maroons as this will be the Maroon 5’s final dance in the collegiate scene.
“Wala na talaga next season, so sobrang special samin, lalo na ‘yung mga graduating na this season, na nakapasok kami ng finals. Pero tulad ng sinabi ko kanina, di pa talaga tapos, and ‘yung goal namin talaga is makuha ‘yung championship,” Abadiano stressed.
Only needing two more wins to clinch the back-to-back, Abadiano says that it’s back to the drawing board for him and UP as they prepare for either the NU Bulldogs, or the DLSU Green Archers for the championship.
“Siguro hindi lang kami makakampante sa nangyari ngayon, sa kung anuman ‘yung nangyari ngayong game. Ngayong araw mag-celebrate kami, pero kinabukasan trabaho ulit, panibagong challnges na naman.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.