ONLY two coaches hold winning records against four-time UAAP champion mentor Tab Baldwin.
The University of the Philippines’ Goldwin Monteverde is one of them, alongside Far Eastern University’s Denok Miranda who swept his season series with Baldwin in his lone campaign as shot-caller in Season 86.
READ: UP sweeping Ateneo is rare. Here are other two times it happened
Monteverde sports a 9-6 record over Tab-led Ateneo sides in the last four seasons, including two championship battles which they split in Seasons 84 (UP) and 85 (Ateneo).
While the young and rebuilding Blue Eagles of today may seem to be a far cry from the dynastic blue-and-white of yesteryears, the Fighting Maroons and their brilliant tactician know better.
Go(ld), grow, glow
Results aside, there’s been a lot to learn for Monteverde over the span of the last four seasons he’s been in the UAAP seniors’ ranks with UP.
All throughout, the Battle of Katipunan was never a cakewalk.
“Siyempre, I would really learn a lot. We know the program that coach Tab has for Ateneo. We cannot approach the game na parang relax lang. We really need to prepare for it,” Monteverde said.
“At the same time, during the course of the game, it's not like things just would fall into place. We should be able to react.”
Coach Gold furthered, “The coach that he is, I really admire him as a coach. The way he runs his program in Ateneo and definitely competing against him, I really learned a lot."
Character-building campaign
Just as he has established and reinforced a well-deserved reputation as a championship-caliber coach, Monteverde’s pursuit of getting the best out of his players grows stronger by the day.
As the Fighting Maroons enter their sixth straight Final Four, fourth under coach Gold, it’s all or nothing from here on out to reclaim the title after two years of championship heartbreak.
“Since Day 1, ‘yung hunger namin, nandyan talaga. We wouldn't call it complacency. Siyempre, tao rin at minsan, may mga times na we’re trying to be ready for a game, but sometimes, things would not fall sa gusto mo.
“Then again, ‘yun ‘yung maganda sa basketball for me, ‘yung mga nangyayaring ganun would make us stronger. Each player would develop his character while playing.
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