MANILA, Phiilippines—Jun Manzo’s collegiate career came to an end in the most unceremonious of ways.
With University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas fighting for their lives, Manzo ended his four-year UAAP career by fouling out with 2:33 left in the knockout game for a UAAP Finals berth.
As UP center Bright Akhuetie laid on the Growling Tigers’ side of the court writhing in pain, the Fighting Maroons had to commit a foul to allow the Season 81 MVP to go to the bench and get treatment.
Manzo decided to step up and do it without knowing that he was already in foul trouble.
“I’m sad because those were the last two minutes of the game but I don’t regret taking that one foul,” said Manzo in Filipino after UP’s 68-65 loss Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Whatever the circumstance, I would still commit the foul because Bright is my family and I won’t allow anything bad to happen to him.”
Manzo, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, admitted that he thought he still had on more foul to give and that he was surprised when the barker announced he had committed his final one.
“I just cried after it because it’s just sad that we didn’t reach our goal of reaching the finals.”
Nevertheless, Manzo believes the Fighting Maroons can bounce back in the future.
Manzo, a transferee from University of Visayas, played four years for UP and was with the team during its meteoric rise from perennial cellar dweller to Season 81 runner-up.
“I just hope that they continue their winning mindset even though we didn’t reach the finals this year,” said Manzo. “I hope they continue what we started and that is to always get to the Final Four.”