UAAP: Coach expects UP to shift to higher gear in search for semis bonus

The UP Fighting Maroons. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA — The University of the Philippines (UP) has been living up to its billing as one of the favorites in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

With only four games remaining in their schedule, the Fighting Maroons currently sit in second place in the team standings, a result of their 9-1 win-loss record.

This puts them alongside their Season 86 Finals tormentors De La Salle University in a prime spot to enter the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage, especially since the team currently sitting at No.3 -- the University of the East -- already has four losses in 10 games.

READ: UP dismantles Ateneo, hands Baldwin his worst loss in the UAAP

However, State U is not in any way being complacent despite the position that they are in right now. No other than UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde is aware of the hunger that his boys have as they continue their search for redemption, saying that it has been fueling them even before the present season started. 

"For us naman, since Day 1, yung hunger namin andyan na talaga," said the champion coach. 

Monteverde admits that while his squad might show some growing pains at points during their games — with UP needing a late spurt against Adamson University as well as a strong showing in the second and third quarters against Ateneo de Manila University before they went on to take care of their businesses — he does not see those as signs of the Maroons playing with their food. 

"We wouldn't call it complacency. Kumbaga siguro, syempre tao rin, so minsan may mga times na things would not fall sa kung anong gusto mo. But then again, yun yung maganda sa basketball for me. Kumbaga yung mga nangyayaring ganun would make us stronger," he explained.

"Each player would develop his character while playing. So samin, siguro kung anong dumating, basta kami we'll just have to do our best to be ready, focus sa mga upcoming games namin and how we adjust to it. Yun ang importante samin," he added. 

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. Photo from UAAP Media.

Aside from this, despite most of their games coming in blowouts — with their recent one being Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin’s biggest defeat in his UAAP career — Coach Gold added that these still give his team important pointers as the season nears its end. 

"We know the program that coach Tab has for Ateneo," said Monteverde. So we cannot approach the game na relaxed. We really need to prepare for it. At the same time, during the course of the game, it's not like just things would fall into place. We should be able to react. I really admire him as a coach. The way he runs his program in Ateneo and definitely competing against him, I really learned a lot."

READ: What’s next for Ateneo, Coach Tab after their worst loss in Baldwin era?

Monteverde is confident that his team will improve even more come the Final 4, barring any unexpected setback.

"Expect na we will work harder," said the former National University-Nazareth School coach. "We will work to improve the team. I think we have 4 games pa kung hindi ako nagkakamali, and each game would be a stepping stone for us to be better."

"Importante lang na we should be healthy as a team then in a way, slowly, we will still improve."

UP still has UE, NU, FEU, and DLSU on their calendar before the Final Four starts.