NOTHING comes easy.
This explains why despite absorbing two straight losses, University of the Philippines kept its resolve against Far Eastern University last Saturday, convinced that overcoming adversities can only serve them in good stead.
“I guess sa isang team kapag nagdaan ka sa ganong sitwasyon like losing two games, then having this kind of game na haharapin mo, nakita natin that everybody’s really fighting hard and trying to overcome whatever comes our way,” Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde said. “As I said, this gets us ready kung ano man iyong haharapin namin towards the end of the season.
“Siyempre, kapag dumadaan ka sa mga ganoong pagsubok, minsan siyempre, kahit naman sa buhay ganon din ‘di ba? It’s just like whatever circumstance basta lumaban lang. May mangyayari pa ring maganda para sa iyo,” he added.
Monteverde voiced out his thoughts came on the heels of his wards’ 86-78 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament.
The win allowed UP to check a mini two-game slide and hiked its mark to 10-3 before it wraps up its eliminations campaign tomorrow against Final Four-seeking University of the East at The Arena in San Juan.
The Maroons have clinched the No. 2 slot in the semifinals and will be armed with a twice-to-beat advantage opposite third-ranked University of Santo Tomas.
Top seed and defending champion La Salle, also armed with a win-once incentive in the Last Four, will face either the Red Warriors or Adamson University.
“Every time na may game na ganito na we had to battle it out talaga in the end, it makes you proud as a coach,” Monteverde said. “Especially coming from dalawang talo kami but seeing the heart from the players when we started, and even through the imperfections of the game, they were trying to execute at dumepensa.
“For me, you know, talk about bouncing back, this would be the first time this season.”
For sure, Monteverde welcomed the Tams giving UP fits.
“I guess siguro kasama naman iyon sa game ano, iyong mag-a-adjust iyong kabila and on our part, we really try our best to meet or overcome kung ano man iyong ibinibigay samin. Sa akin ano man, I guess, it falls for us sa part namin to be consistent din,” he said. “Sa mga prina-practice namin araw-araw matra-translate during game time and although, you know, part of it kapag nasa game ka na, marami nang sitwasyon na puwedeng mangyari, adjusting from it.
“Para sa akin malaking bagay iyong growth namin as a team.”
