By MARK REY MONTEJO
Redemption had become this year’s theme as far as the UAAP and NCAA men’s basketball tournaments are concerned. And last year’s bridesmaid finishers – University of the Philippines and Mapua – made sure they would atone from the heartbreaks of the past in grand fashion.
So the UP Fighting Maroons and the Mapua Cardinals tripled their efforts in finding the right attitude and chemistry and boosting their confidence during pre-season to make sure they come back stronger and deadlier.
And they did.
But that was not to say that it was an easy run. Challenges were aplenty but adversities truly built toughness. At the end, it was clear: patience is a virtue.
Draw strength from two straight heartbreaking finals
After its historic championship – that broke its 36-year title drought – in UAAP Season 84, UP endured two straight title defeats – a string of misfortunes that was vividly remembered by the Maroons, JD Cagulangan in particular.
And for him, along with mainstays Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea and Janjan Felicilda, it was a moment they do not want to ever experience again.
And that was visible in UP’s impressive run in Season 87, finishing second in the eliminations with an11-3 card.
It made quick work of UST in the semifinal to draw a finals dance to a familiar foe – Kevin Quiambao and the La Salle Archers.
Though it bowed to the Taft-based squad twice in the preliminaries, the State U pulled off a shocker in the opener with a 73-65 win.
Before thousands of UP supporters, the Maroons, however, stumbled in Game 2, allowing the Archers to force a sudden death.
A déjà vu? Nope.
Cagulangan, Francis Lopez and Quentin Millora-Brown rose to the occasion and steadied the Maroons’ ship in the payoff period. Their collective efforts outshone Quiambao and Mike Phillips to bring back the title to Diliman, 66-62.
UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde was glad to finally solve the puzzle that is Topex Robinson and his feisty La Salle squad.
“Very thankful ako especially sa mga bata, na you know, from the start ng season after namin matalo last year [and] araw-araw, tinatrabaho nila, how they worked hard for it,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. “Even during the course of the season, ‘yung ups and downs namin, I’m very proud of each and everyone sa team namin
“Thankful ako sa coaching staff na wala ring tigil, pag wala sila, di ko rin magagawa ‘yong dapat kong gawin,” he added.
With their victory, Cagulangan had a fitting farewell to UP, making himself a legend of the program that was once led by PH basketball icons Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc.
He ended his stint as a Fighting Maroon with two championships and a Finals MVP plum before taking his talent in the Korean pro league along with Quiambao.
“Sobrang sarap lang sa feeling na nakuha namin ‘yong title, lalo na tapos na ‘yong stint ko sa UP. Iba lang ‘yong saya kasi alam nyo naman pinagdaanan namin before namin makuha ‘to,” said Cagulangan.
Full circle in NCAA
It took three decades before the Mapua Cardinals called themselves champions. It was a long, winding road but it was all worth it.
Its head coach, Randy Alcantara, was even part of that last team that won an NCAA title in 1991 – as if a work of fate – he was the one who steered the team back to the Promised Land.
A full circle moment, indeed, also making their title win over the College of St. Benilde Blazers more special as it happened in the centennial season of the grand old league.
But there were jitters, of course, with Mapua going through a painful stretch after succumbing to San Beda in Season 99 in their best-of-three finals series despite the gallant efforts from Clint Escamis.
But the 24-year-old versatile guard was undeterred and even came back better and stronger.
Escamis took charge for the Cardinals this year and led the team on a 12-game win streak.
An 84-73 Game 1 win, followed by a 94-82 triumph, sealed the Cardinals’ sixth overall crown in NCAA history.
