JD Cagulangan’s second UAAP title with the UP Fighting Maroons was more than the perfect farewell to his collegiate career with his family witnessing his triumph from the sidelines.
After five seasons in the UAAP, JD Cagulangan is wrapping up his collegiate career as a two-time UAAP champion in what has been a roller-coaster ride with the UP Fighting Maroons.
Cagulangan, UP’s Season 84 hero, showed the way once more in their UAAP Season 87 title run as he was named Finals MVP in the three-game series. The ace guard averaged 13.66 points and 4.66 assists as he provided stability in UP’s UAAP finals rematch with the De La Salle Green Archers.
But more than capping off a storied UAAP career, Cagulangan also dedicated his final collegiate title to his family in Butuan. While Seasons 85 and 86 ended in heartbreaks, the 24-year-old ensured that his loved ones would witness him exit the UAAP on a high note.
“Of course, family ko dyan ako humuhugot ng lakas. So everytime na may finals, pinapupunta ko talaga sila dito kasi mas ginaganahan ako maglaro pag nandyan sila, and I know na kahit anong mangyari nandyan naman sila para sakin,” Cagulangan told reporters after UP’s 66-62 Game 3 win over DLSU on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons almost swept La Salle in their finals rematch before Kevin Quiambao knocked down crucial triples in the waning minutes of Game 2. Cagulangan bared how that loss weighed heavier given that it was his eldest brother’s birthday at the time.
But come Game 3, he and the Fighting Maroons showed poise to close out the Archers and win the Season 87 title.
“Now I’m very very happy kasi nung December 11 [Game 2], which is birthday ng kuya ko, ‘yung panganay namin, hindi ko nabigay ‘yung championship na ‘yun nung time na ‘yun. Tas nung December 13, birthday nung inaanak ko which is sobrang malapit sa akin,” Cagulangan reflected.
And with Christmas fast approaching, Cagulangan shared, “Siguro ito na ‘yung gift ko sa kanila [kuya and inaanak]. Gift ko na rin kila mama and papa na thankful ako na ginuide nila ako nang maayos and eto ako ngayon.”
It remains to be seen where JD Cagulangan will take his act next for the UAAP. But all that matters now is that he’s a two-time collegiate champion that delivered his team back to the promised land.
And in doing so, he had his family to witness him once more at his highest. The same family who ensured that JD Cagulangan would turn out right as he went from a dreamer in Butuan to a beloved icon in Diliman.
“Every finals lang sila pumupunta dito, and sometimes umuuwi ako samin but sobrang bilis lang, two days lang tapos balik na. And nasanay na rin ako kasi I think 12 years old kasi wala na rin ako sa bahay,” Cagulangan reflected.
“So parang nasanay na rin ako, but thankful kasi may mga [Facebook] Messenger na and hindi lang Skype ‘di ba?” said the 24-year-old, who was first discovered by La Salle Green Hills in the Palarong Pambansa in 2013.
Banner image taken by Kieran Punay from KLIQ Inc.