IN case everybody forgot, Goldwin Monteverde is still golden.
And after University of the Philippines' triumph in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Finals, the soft-spoken mentor is now a two-time champion coach in the seniors division.
It's the latest to Monteverde's gaudy trophy collection which already includes a number of high school titles in the juniors division during his previous stops in Chiang Kai Shek, Adamson, and National University-Nazareth School.
More importantly, it's proof that the UAAP Season 84 championship -- the league's only bubble season -- was no fluke.
But for a time, it felt like it for the Diliman doubters especially after State U's title drought-ending triumph got followed up by two bridesmaid finishes in the next two seasons.
With top guns Carl Tamayo, Zavier Lucero, Malick Diouf, Ricci Rivero, and CJ Cansino graduating one-by-one, UP remained a perennial favorite but its ability to once again reach the pinnacle and win it all anew got questioned.
The chatter, it seemed, felt that at times it was the same old story. Nowhere to go but runner-up, some said.
READ: A long, trying season for UP Maroons ends in blaze of glory
Even Monteverde's coaching abilities were questioned, to the surprise of many, considering how the son of Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde brought the Fighting Maroons to four straight Finals appearances since taking over.
But through it all, he kept his faith. To the system, and most importantly, to his players.
"Very thankful ako especially sa mga bata na from the start ng season after namin matalo last year, araw-araw tinrabaho and they really worked hard for it," he said.
From JD Cagulangan, the hero of that aforementioned last championship run two years ago, to old reliables like Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres who have been with him since their time in Jhocson as Bullpups.
From Francis Lopez, that troubled blue chip recruit who came to UP after an aborted stint overseas, to one-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown who sought to make immediate impact in his lone UAAP season.
From unheralded forwards Mark Belmonte and Aldous Torculas, transferee Gani Stevens and Dikachi Ududo, rookie Jacob Bayla, to shock troppers Chicco Briones, Sean Alter, and Denzil Walker.
All of them, Monteverde believed in.
And it wasn't easy, especially with the hardships UP had to endure throughout this campaign.
From Cagulangan's midseason injury, the alleged spitgate that Torres found himself in, the abrupt sabbatical of QMB to tend to his lolo Angel's burial, to their stunning back-to-back losses near the end of the eliminations which included a shock blowout loss at the hands of lowly NU and an eliminations sweep at the hands of La Salle, Monteverde constantly reminded his players to never lose sight of the goal and take every challenge as a chance to learn and be better.
And boy, did the Fighting Maroons heed the mentor's call.
"Even during the course of the season, yung ups and downs namin, I’m very proud of each and everyone sa team namin," he said.
Monteverde's never ending pursuit for greatness reverberated not just to the players but to the coaches as well.
"Wala ring tigil yung coaching staff," he said, giving toast to his deputies Tom Chua, Christian Luanzon, Poch Juinio, Mo Gingerich, and veterans Eric Gonzales and Egay Macaraya as well as the team staff.
"Pag wala sila, di ko rin magagawa yung dapat kong gawin para sa team."
READ: UP Finals MVP JD Cagulangan takes talents to Korea
Monteverde said it from the preseason that regardless of the result, he'll consider this season as a success if he sees everyone playing up to the best of their abilities and do so together.
"We’re really big in being a family. Winning a championship is the goal, but if di naman kayo magkasundo, it’s nothing," he said back then.
"Kung mailabas namin ang full potential namin, lahat ng makakaya namin, kung saan man kami dalhin this season, tatanggapin namin."
Now that UP is once again the kings of the UAAP, consider that mission accomplished.
And that's why Monteverde remains to this day as the gold standard -- pun intended, of course.
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