UP guard Gerry Abadiano.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde was hardly surprised by the offensive prowess of Gerry Abadiano as he knew that the guard had it in him since high school.
Abadiano, who was more of a defensive guard in his first two seasons with UP, provided stability down the stretch and unleashed a career-high 22 points to lead the Fighting Maroons past defending champion Ateneo, 65-60, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday before a crowd of 17,406 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I think naman kahit naman sinong high school player, pag umakyat ng college, merong level of adjustment. And nag-struggle siya, yes, di niya nakuha yung game niya nung high school. But kung ano man nakikita ko sakanya ngayon, di naman ako nabibigla because every day I see him, pumupunta sa practice nauuna sa lahat, and hindi siya na-discourage kumabaga, he took it as a challenge and unti unti, he’s improving,” said Monteverde of his Abadiano, who has been his player since high school at Nazareth School.
Abadiano came through for UP when it blew a 13-point lead in the fourth as he joined hands with Harold Alarcon and Francis Lopez to hold off Ateneo, which went on a 12-0 run to tie the game.
“Kasi kapag nakaka-shoot yung Ateneo, mindset talaga namin is next play lagi. Hindi naman namin kontrolado yun eh, so nung pahabol yung Ateneo, nag-stick lang kami as a team,” Abadiano said. “Ginawa lang namin yung best namin, na ma-[retain] yung lamang namin then yun nga, yung sabi ni Coach Gold na yung effort lang sa loob ng court, ibigay lang namin.”
Abadiano also showed UP’s next-man-up mentality after the Maroons played without CJ Cansino, who was under the weather, and JD Cagulangan due to a hamstring injury.
“Inisip lang namin na maglalaro kami para sa mga kuya namin, CJ and JD. Kasi malaking bagay din naman silang dalawa sa team namin, di sila naglaro ngayon. So yun nga, ginawa nalang naming motivation yung game na ‘to is para sakanilang beterano,” he said.
UP, which tightened its hold of the top seed with an 8-1 record, will have a week before facing La Salle (6-3) on November 5 at Mall of Asia Arena.