After missing the services of CJ Cansino and seeing JC Cagulangan get hurt, the University of the Philippines is bracing for a massive matchup with surging De La Salle University this weekend in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Slated to battle the Green Archers on 5 November, the Fighting Maroons badly need the two to ramp up their chances in their Mall of Asia showdown.
Cagulangan suffered a hamstring injury during the Maroons’ 65-60 win over Ateneo last 29 October and head coach Goldwin Monteverde would need him in prime shape given the threat being posed by the Archers.
“Hopefully, JD and CJ will be available by that time,” Monteverde said.
Cansino was under the weather and was not used the last time.
“We have to keep on working hard. Regardless of who we are up against, we have to focus. The break isn’t that long so we have to train and get ready,” he said.
With Cagulangan and Cansino absent against the Blue Eagels, Gerry Abadiano answered the call and became the hero the Maroons needed, dropping a career-high 22 points in their win.
Despite finally beating Ateneo this season, Monteverde told his players to stay focused on their campaign as the Final Four race tightens.
Currently, UP sits on top of the standings with an 8-1 win-loss record.
“For me’ it’s one of the battles we finally overcame this season but we have to move forward from this. The important thing I saw here is how we were able to bounce back against a team that defeated us,” Monteverde said.
With the Maroons facing the Archers again in the second round, basketball fans are eager to see how Monteverde will come up with a game plan against his former pupil Kevin Quiambao.
Quiambao, who played for Monteverde in high school at Nazareth School of National University, delivered the league’s first triple-double performance since Juan Gomez de Liaño of UP did the trick in 2018 with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists in La Salle’s 88-78 win over National University last Saturday.
But instead of talking about tactics, Monteverde expressed his pride in his former player making waves in the UAAP even if they are on opposing sides come Sunday.
Quiambao won two UAAP boys’ basketball titles with Monteverde with the Bullpups in 2019 and 2020 along with Terrence Fortea, Abadiano and Carl Tamayo, who all eventually played for UP in their collegiate careers.
