UAAP: Gerry Abadiano, UP relish collective effort in hard-fought win

UP Fighting Maroons’ Gerry Abadiano. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Gerry Abadiano and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons were ecstatic after pulling off a hard-earned 67-64 win over the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“We had a hard time all throughout the game. But it was worth it. All of us were screaming and happy because we knew that we worked really hard to earn this win,” said Abadiano in Filipino after helping UP remain unbeaten in six games.

Abadiano sank a clutch elbow jumper to give the Fighting Maroons a 65-63 lead with a minute to go and halt the 11-0 run of the Green Archers.

The third-year guard said he embraced his role all throughout the game until he got an opportunity to make a crucial shot.

“I just did my role for our team. When there’s an open shot, I try to shoot it. It’s all about timing. I can’t force my shots. I got lucky, too, that’s why my shots went in,” said Abadiano, who topscored for UP with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists

Abadiano, a Nazareth School product, added that they were eager to fight for school pride after they trailed by 12, 51-38, to start the third and unleashed a blistering 21-0 run, limiting La Salle to just three points in the quarter.

UP coach Goldwin Monteverde lauded Abadiano and the Fighting Maroons’ defense as they were able to dig deep and rose to a 6-0 record ahead of their finals rematch against the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday at MOA Arena.

“It’s always a collective effort of everybody. After our talk in the first half, they communicated inside, realizing that we’d have to do more, individually and also as a team. That kind of effort gave us a good result,” Monteverde said.