UAAP: Monteverde, UP draw lessons from worst loss of season

UP Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde after their loss to NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines played its worst game of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, shooting an awful 26.2 percent from the field and giving up 30 turnovers.

UP absorbed a shocking 67-47 loss to cellar-dweller National University, failing to seal the last twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

“In basketball, I always say it’s not a perfect game. And aside from being players, they’re human beings too. So sometimes, there are just days like this,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. “I think this game teaches character—how to keep going and endure whatever comes your way. And this loss can also be big for us as people, teaching us how to improve.”

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

The Fighting Maroons, whose best scorer was Aldous Torcullas with 13 points in 10 minutes of action, had a season-low 17-of-65 shooting —including 4-of-29 from the three-point line — while giving up 23 points off turnovers to the Bulldogs.

Monteverde said their off game should be a big lesson to his team moving forward after sliding to a 9-2 record in second place. 

UP coach Goldwin Monteverde on their tough loss to NU. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/eQ4CWnenIb

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) November 3, 2024

“In every game, whether we win or lose, we always try to find ways to improve both individually and as a team. I believe that games like this should make us stronger,” he said.

“Whether you win by one point or lose by one point or more, for me, in every game, we need to see what we need to change. For us, even in practice, Final Four, or championship, we give our best every day.”

READ: UAAP: NU keeps slim Final Four hopes alive, shocks UP

Monteverde though that NU deserved to win with its airtight defense preventing the Maroons from mounting a comeback in the second half.

“I’m not gonna take anything away from NU, they played good defense against us tomight,” the UP coach said. 

“Since we are the opposing team, we need to play good defense, and that means we have to do better overall. We had some open shots, but we didn’t make them. Sometimes that happens, but we don’t want to rely on that. We’ll work on it before the next game.”

UP has a week to prepare for its second-round rematch against finals tormentor La Salle on Sunday next week. Monteverde wants his wards to treat it just like their other games but he urges them to execute better.

“I think that same mindset for every game, whether it’s La Salle, NU, or Adamson. Every game will be a championship for us. Every game, we demand to give the best that we could every game,” Monteverde said.