UP Fighting Maroons celebrate after beating the La Salle Green Archers in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Another championship coupled with a UAAP Finals MVP, JD Cagulangan couldn’t have written a better script to end his UAAP journey.
But before carving out an indelible legacy with University of the Philippines, Cagulangan’s UAAP career didn’t start the way he would’ve wanted to as he struggled to find his role with La Salle in Season 82 in 2019.
Cagulangan then transferred to Diliman the following year and proved to be a good fit for UP under coach Goldwin Monteverde’s system when he made his debut for the Fighting Maroons two years ago.
“Sobrang happy ko na napunta ako sa programang ito. Winelcome nila ako nang maayos at deserve ng UP na manalo this season,” said Cagulangan after helping UP hold off La Salle in the deciding Game 3, 66-62, in front of record-breaking 25,248 fans on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: UP hero JD Cagulangan ends stint with UAAP Finals MVP award
“Gusto ko mag-thank you kay coach Gold. Nagtiwala siya. Hindi niya man ako naging player pero ‘yung tiwala niya nandoon. ‘Yung coaching staff, and of course, ‘yung teammates ko, yung sponsors. Andon of course, sa family ko, sa kanila ako kumukuha ng lakas.”
Cagulangan immortalized himself as a hero for UP when he hit one of the biggest shots in UAAP history to deliver the school’s first championship since 1986 and dethrone Ateneo for the Season 84 crown.
After falling short with back-to-back runner-up finishes the past two seasons, including last year’s title loss to the Green Archers, Cagulangan led the Fighting Maroons’ redemption bid averaging 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks in the championship round.
READ: UAAP Finals: JD Cagulangan quickly moves on from Game 2 loss
Cagulangan may be at the forefront of UP’s return to the top but he certainly couldn’t have done it alone. Francis Lopez atoned for costly Game 2 miscues with a big 3-pointer down the stretch while Quentin Millora-Brown also came up clutch by sinking the title-sealing free throws to finish with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“I’m happy for Francis by the way. Sobrang proud ako kung paano niya in-overcome ‘yung mga nangyari sa kanya,” said Cagulangan. “Kay Q at sa buong UP community. Thank you talaga. Wala akong masabi kasi nao-overwhelm ako sa suporta kahit saan kami magpunta. Thank you.”