Kib Montalbo’s collegiate journey has drawn to a close.
After three Final Four appearances and one championship, the senior out of Bacolod bids goodbye to a UAAP career he hardly ever imagined.
Montalbo said he only wanted to play in the Metro Manila because of the atmosphere but he never pictured himself to become the captain of the Green Archers, long considered as one of the elites in the collegiate scene.
“Back in Bacolod I just told myself that I wanted to play in Manila because of the drums,” said Montalbo in Filipino. “In Bacolod, there was no drums, there wasn’t even a crowd.”
“I didn’t expect that I’ll be the captain of La Salle and lead the team. I never expected that even in my wildest dreams but I’m here and I’m grateful for the university, the coaches, the bosses, the managers, everything.”
Montalbo was an integral part of the Green Archers’ ninth UAAP title in Season 79 when he spearheaded Aldin Ayo’s Mayhem defense.
And the former St. John Institute star in Bacolod could’ve had a few more games left in his collegiate career if only the Green Archers beat Far Eastern University in the fourth-place playoff.
The Tamaraws and La Salle ended the eliminations tied in fourth with identical 8-6 records and the two teams had to duke it out in a do-or-die game to determine who goes to the Final Four.
FEU took the 71-70 win that ended Montalbo’s career in the green-and-white.
It was also in that game that Montalbo suffered a minor gash that left a few drops of blood to dry up on his jersey.
Montalbo, though, doesn’t plan on washing the final jersey he wore in the UAAP and instead put it in a frame with blood and all.
“I won’t wash this because this is some sort of memorabilia that says I gave it my all for La Salle.”