THE search continued for Fran Yu even after the final buzzer horned and confetti rained signalling Letran's 81-79 Game Three triumph over San Beda on Wednesday.
Yes, the Knights were champion anew, taking their rightful place atop the mountain this NCAA Season 95, but the 5-foot-10 playmaker was still in the hunt for one thing: his gold medal.
The 21-year-old, who was adjudged as the Finals MVP for his heroics in this championship series, was conspicuously left out without a medal.
"Importante yun! Sasabit ko yun kasama yung jersey ko na ito tapos sasabit ko sa bahay," he said, scratching his head in amusement, before eventually finding the memorabilia.
Yu did get a trophy for his own for being hailed as the top player in the Finals, averaging 13.7 points, 6.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals.
It meant more to him, though, that everyone had a share of the glory with this championship.
"Masarap (maging Finals MVP), pero mas masarap maging champion," he said. "Wala yung individual award as long as makuha namin yung malaking trophy. Yun yung pangarap naming lahat."
"Ako, hindi ko naman pinangarap yung individual award. Totoo yun. Ang pangarap ko maging champion ako at lahat kami magaangat ng trophy."
Still, Yu cherishes one of the 16 gold medals the NCAA gave out and take it home as his memorabilia for this career milestone.
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