L-Jay Gonzales is determined to play finish strong even as the FEU Tamaraws missed the Final Four in his final year in the UAAP.
The Tamaraws' ninth loss in 12 games to league leader UP marked a bitter end to their semifinals bid.
READ: Aldous Torculas shines as UP boosts twice-to-beat bid with win over FEU
"Unang-una, siyempre sobrang sakit na hindi kami ulit nakapasok ng Final Four. Twice na kasi last year na hindi kami nakapasok," said Gonzales.
"'Yung season namin this year, ang dami naming challenges, daming injuries na dumating sa amin, at maraming nangyari. Pero binibigay pa rin namin ‘yung best namin every practice pa lang talaga.
"Happy din ako na kahit na out na kami sa Final Four, pinaglalaban pa rin namin talaga para ‘yung exit namin at least maganda," he added.
Nothing to lose for Gonzales, FEU
Gonzales bared how they're eager to fight harder with nothing to lose in their final two games.
"Mindset namin na nothing to lose na kami eh. 'Makipaglaban lang kami,' 'yung lang naman gusto ni Coach Denok (Miranda) sa'min,na makipaglaban kami hanggang sa dulo kasi hindi pa naman tapos ‘yung UAAP eh. Malay mo may mga matatalo pa kami.
"Yung ‘be brave’ spirit talaga na sinasabi ni Coach Denok, ‘yun talaga ‘youg laging nasa mindset namin," Gonzales said.
'Bright future ahead'
With Gonzales preparing to leave his college days behind, he reiterated his full faith and confidence with the Tamaraws' young guns to lift FEU from the depths of defeat in the years to come.
"Happy ako the way we played [with] the yung guns. Sila Jorick (Bautista), sila Xyrus (Torres), kahit na napagalitan kami ni Coach Denok kasi gusto niya mag-grow kami lahat, hindi lang ako," said Gonzales.
"Lagi ko rin silang inaadvise-an na maglaro lang kami nang maayos at ibigay lang namin kung ano ‘yung nararapat talaga sa team. Kapag binigay mo naman talaga ‘yung effort mo, ‘yung galing mo sa loob ng court wala kang pagsisisihan.
"At 'yun lang din lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na ibigay 'yung best nila at ‘yung one hundred percent nila."
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