By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the Philippines head coach Goldwin Monteverde couldn’t help but offer sweet words to his “Maroon Five” after a runner-up finish in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
With the quintet of Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres and Janjan Felicilda bidding goodbye, Monteverde knew they deserved every amount of respect and admiration for steering the State U to the finals against the DLSU Green Archers.
“First of course, binigay nila lahat… from Season 84 until now, every practice and every game namin, I can see them really give their best,” said Monteverde.
“Wala nakong ibang hihingin pa sa kanila, sa akin I think in terms of samahan na mayroon sila, well of course maganda magkasama kayo sa panalo, pero then for me the true test is magkasama rin kami sa talo,” he added. “Being with them solid pa rin together.”
A big figure in collegiate basketball, Monteverde has transformed UP into a powerhouse school in the UAAP after helping National University-Nazareth School to back-to-back championships.
And among the NU players then were Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Steve Nash Enriquez and the so-called Maroon Five. There, they blossomed together through the help of their godfather Eduard Tio.
Tio’s his trusted lieutenant Edster Sy was their big brother.
“Very proud ako as a coach, ‘yong as I said ‘yong nakikita natin from every game kasi ako I have the chance to see every practice na we usually see them they gave their 100 percent,” he concluded.
