Camille Naredo

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde during Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finals in Quezon City on December 15, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

The University of the Philippines and the De La Salle University battle in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finals in Quezon City on December 15, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Finals Game 3

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173433465999920241215-uaap87-up-dlsu-MQD_0781-MD.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde during Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men&#x27;s basketball finals in Quezon City on December 15, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde during Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men&#x27;s basketball finals in Quezon City on December 15, 2024. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- It&#x27;s all about not giving up until the final buzzer for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their redemption tour.</p><p>This was the mindset head coach Goldwin Monteverde instilled in his players, as the result of UAAP Season 87 Finals Game 3 remained up in the air in the last two minutes.</p><p>At the 1:34 mark of the payoff period, the Diliman-based squad was up by a single point, 61-60, against the De La Salle University Green Archers.</p><p>Seconds later, Francis Lopez stepped up for UP with a clutch three-pointer to extend their lead to four points and move them closer to reclaiming the men&#x27;s basketball title.</p><p>When asked what he told the boys during those tense moments, Monteverde said it was all about reminding them to not lose sight of their goal, to win the championship.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2024/12/15/redemption-up-reigns-over-la-salle-for-uaap-championship-glory-2005">READ: UP reigns over La Salle for UAAP championship glory</a></div><p>&quot;Lagi naman kaming walang bibitaw sa amin. Yun naman yun eh, walang bibitaw. Let&#x27;s not stop. Just keep pounding. Darating din sa atin yan,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Monteverde said he is happy to share this championship with this group.</p><p>&quot;Looking back sa taon namin, from January &#x27;til ngayon pinaghirapan namin, it was not like parang ganun kadali. Talagang grabe yung oras, yung energy, yung binibigay nila. Sa akin naman, masaya ako,&quot; he shared.</p><p>The two-time UAAP men&#x27;s basketball champion mentor said adjustments don&#x27;t mean much, especially in a do-or-die Game 3 in the Finals. What matters is the heart of the team and determination to win.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s more of tulad ng sabi ko, if you&#x27;re really hungry for it, is it really worth it? Being able to kumbaga overcome what happened for the past two seasons. And accepting the challenge, knowing kung lumaban ka it could go good or bad. But despite that, giving your heart out. Having the courage to fight and really pursue for your goal,&quot; Monteverde added.</p><div><strong>ALL LOVE TO THE UP FAITHFUL</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABR0UmwB4LkjakS6&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><p>The UP head coach is glad to have delivered a championship, after back-to-back heartbreaks and silver place finishes in Season 85 and 86.</p><p>The Diliman cagers lost to the Ateneo Blue Eagles and DLSU Green Archers in those championship series.</p><p>&quot;I want to thank the UP community from last season. Same venue. Nag-iiyakan kami lahat dito. But for this season, kahit anong mangyari, they never left us. Hindi mo maramdamdaman ni isang game na wala sila,&quot; Monteverde said.</p><p>&quot;Thank you rin sa management who&#x27;s been supporting us for halos the whole year. Ako papasalamat ako sa coaching staff ko. Without them, hindi ko magagawa lahat to the best of my capability. Thank you to the players who really trusted us through everything,&quot; he added.</p><p>The UAAP says Monteverde is the first head coach, not from Ateneo, to win multiple titles in Men&#x27;s Basketball.</p><p>The Season 87 crown is UP&#x27;s fourth overall UAAP championship and their second in the past four seasons.</p><p>UP is also the first season host school to win the Men&#x27;s Basketball championship since Ateneo in Season 82.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2024/12/15/uaap-finals-mvp-jd-cagulangan-ends-his-up-career-as-a-champion-2214">READ: Finals MVP JD Cagulangan ends his UP career as a champion</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vKa4oexKZXQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>It's all about not giving up until the final buzzer for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their redemption tour.</p>

It's all about not giving up until the final buzzer for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their redemption tour.

Coach Gold's advice to UP in Game 3: 'Walang bibitaw'

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Coach Gold's advice to UP in Game 3: 'Walang bibitaw'

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 16, 2024 04:54 PM PHT

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