Wherever he went, Goldwin Monteverde always brought success to the teams he led. He did it with Chiang Kai Shek, Adamson High School, and Nazareth School of National University.
Now he faces the biggest challenge of his career yet as the mentor of the University of the Philippines’ strongest squad since 1986. And the pressure is on to bring the UAAP championship back to Diliman.
However, the quest to reclaim the Holy Grail is full of setbacks that threaten to derail everything.
In his team’s UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament opener against defending champion Ateneo de Manila University, Monteverde saw there is still a long way to go before the Fighting Maroons can seize the throne.
“Sa akin, you know, whatever we went through kanina as a team, kailangan din naman i-experience yun,” said Monteverde, who is making his collegiate debut after heartbreaks with University of the East and National University.
“Playing together as a team, facing challenges as a team… I think whatever naman happened awhile ago, it would give us the chance to improve also.”
With some of the biggest names in college basketball today like Ricci Rivero, Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, CJ Cansino, and Malik Diouf, the pressure is high for UP to figure out things sooner rather than later.
While one game should not determine the course of a campaign, there were times when the Blue Eagles were simply too formidable for them with their offensive and defensive schemes.
The Blue Eagles exploited the free throws struggles of Diouf (5-of-13) and Tamayo (4-of-9). They also forced Rivero to a horrid 3-of-10 shooting game.
Overall, Ateneo forced UP to shoot just 24-of-60 from the field.
There is a saying that goes it is either one wins or one learns. Everything Ateneo showed UP exemplified factors such as good ball movement and selfless play. All are things that those big names will look to improve on as the games come fast.
“My thoughts on that, playing the defending champions in the first game… For me, malaking bagay para sa kanila to get that experience early in the season; to try to see what they can work on from a team standpoint,” added the multi-time high school champion mentor.
“Although going through the games, habang tumatakbo ang mga teams natin, definitely we’re a work in progress. Dire-derecho ang pag-improve namin. Para sa’kin, whatever happened in today’s game will be beneficial din to learn and grow as a team.”
Up against University of Santo Tomas, which is rebuilding after a controversial off-season, UP has a fantastic opportunity to redeem itself. It won’t be an easy game, though, and the Fighting Maroons will hope to learn while barging into the win column this time around.
“Playing as a team. Siyempre limited din ang preparation for practice. And facing the defending champions in the first game, yung challenge na hinarap namin kaagad, I think that would be something to improve on. Even in the toughest challenges, playing as a team is malaking bagay,” closed Monteverde.
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