UP Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde after a battle against Ateneo Blue Eagles and coach Tab Baldwin in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After dealing coach Tab Baldwin’s worst defeat in his eight-year UAAP career, University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde said he has cherished the learnings he gained in every chess match against his rival tactician in the Battle of Katipunan.
UP dominated Ateneo, 75-47 — the biggest losing margin Baldwin has yielded in a UAAP game — to complete an elimination sweep of its rival in the Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.
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It may be a statement win for the Fighting Maroons against their rivals in the Season 84 and 85 finals, but it wasn’t just all about winning for Monteverde.
READ: UAAP: UP dominates Ateneo, hands Tab Baldwin his worst loss
“I really learn a lot. We know the program that Coach Tab has for Ateneo. We cannot approach the game relaxed. We really need to prepare for it. At the same time, during the course of the game, it’s not like just things would fall into place. We should be able to react,” the UP coach said. “The coach that he is. I really admire him as a coach. The way he runs his program ni Ateneo and definitely competing against him, I really learned a lot.”
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Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against UP Fighting Maroons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The Fighting Maroons, who are raring to reclaim the title this year after back-to-back runner-up finishes, swept won their last four meetings against the Blue Eagles including last year’s Final Four duel.
In Season 84, UP captured the UAAP crown in dramatic fashion after JD Cagulangan drilled the title-clinching triple in Game 3. Six months later, Ateneo exacted a sweet revenge to reclaim the glory in Season 85.
READ: UAAP: Maroons look to fix string of slow starts ahead of ‘Battle of Katipunan’
In trumping Baldwin and the Blue Eagles, Monteverde said his wards were able to apply the pressurethrough their defense as most of his players delivered in the game .
“Rotation-wise, for us, it’s about everyone being ready when needed. It depends on who we’re up against and how we plan to approach that game. If adjustments are needed, I’m sure each of us will be prepared for it,” he said.
Pulling off a statement win against one of the most decorated coaches in the UAAP won’t stop the Fighting Maroons from working harder using the win as a “stepping stone to be better” despite a 9-1 record for an assured Final Four berth.
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“Since day one, yung hunger namin andyan talaga. Siyempre tao rin — minsan may mga times na trying to be ready for a game but sometimes things would not fall sa gusto mo. But then again, yun yung maganda sa basketball for me, kumbaga yung mga nangyaring ganun would make us stronger. Each player would develop his character while playing,” Monteverde said. “Basta kami we’ll just have to do our best to be ready, focus sa mga upcoming games namin and how we adjust to it.”