FOR seven straight seasons, University of the Philippines is Final Four-bound again in UAAP Season 88.
Anchoring what once seemed like an unthinkable feat over a decade ago during the school’s ‘dark days’ – days when losses came aplenty – are the duo of two-time champion head coach Goldwin Monteverde and departing team captain Gerry Abadiano.
The former National University–Nazareth School title-winning tandem has gone five-for-five in Final Four appearances since 2021 and has won it all twice, in Seasons 84 and 87.
READ: UP books seventh straight trip to Final Four at Adamson's expense
For Abadiano, who’s been coach Gold’s top gun for as long as he can remember, the secret to Monteverde’s Midas touch is how he builds basketball cultures that aren’t just bent on winning games and championships.
It’s his transcendent leadership, focused on honing not only skilled college players but also grown men ready to take on the ‘real world’ and all its challenges outside the confines of the UAAP.
“‘Yung kultura kasi na tinuturo ni coach Gold, ‘di lang naman siya about sa basketball. Tungkol din siya sa buhay,” Abadiano told SPIN.ph.
“For example, ‘yung mga challenges sa loob ng court, ‘di lang naman sa loob ng court mangyayari ‘yun, sa buhay din.
“Lagi niya lang sinasabi sa’min na ‘yung mga ganung challenges, mga ganung problema, lalabanan lang dapat namin at gagawan ng paraan lagi as a team.”
As part of the ‘Maroon Five,’ one of UP’s graduating pillars by season’s end, Abadiano will always carry the importance of not being a quitter just as much as being a winner.
“’Wag lang talaga kami titigil at mag-give up sa mga challenges na haharapin namin. Focus lang kami sa mga kontrolado namin kaya sinasabi niya rin na mag-respond lang kami sa mga challenges at ‘wag lang talagang mag-quit,” he said.
The Goldwin Standard
On Monteverde’s end, making all of his players better than when they first entered his program feels just as sweet as any championship win.
“On my part, of course being the coach, proud ako every time talaga. Blessed din ako na may mga nakakasama ako sa team na nagwo-work hard and really go through the challenges without giving up,” Monteverde said.
“Lahat naman kami, ang iniisip lang namin is to try and get better.”
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