KEVIN Quiambao knew very well what the future held for him.
With La Salle’s UAAP Season 87 title retention bid falling short and his next chapter with the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) waiting in the wings, the back-to-back Season MVP let his emotions out in the middle of Smart Araneta Coliseum as tears ran down his face.
As the University of the Philippines celebrated their triumph, Quiambao stood up and found himself shaking hands with the opposition before finally sharing a hearty embrace with coach Goldwin Monteverde.
But there was much more to it than just the basic code of sportsmanship.
For Quiambao, it was about paying respects to the mentor who shaped him back in high school to become the player he is today, to the shot-caller who demanded greatness despite not saying much, to the tactician who never settled for less.
And all in all, for Monteverde, it was yet another feather in his cap.
Of course, Quiambao is just the latest in the long line of proud products from his famed high school program.
It's a NU day, yes it is
We’d even dare say that his National University-Nazareth School teams – which won back-to-back crowns in the juniors division in 2019 and 2020, as well as a repeat in the NBTC National Finals in 2018 and 2019 – is, hands down, the best in the UAAP high school ranks in recent history.
You don’t need to look far for Exhibits 1 through whatever.
From collective feats to individual achievements, those Bullpups squads have already generated national team players on both the seniors and youth levels, UAAP and NCAA champions, PBA draftees, and imports in foreign lands.
Quiambao is the latest, but his former running partner Carl Tamayo is already there.
Tamayo, the former Rookie of the Year who’s beloved in UP for ending its 36-year title drought, has already cemented his case overseas from his stint in Gilas Pilipinas to his pro career, first in Japan with Ryukyu Golden Kings and now in Korea with Changwon LG Sakers.
Just like how they did in the high school level, Quiambao and Tamayo’s gaudy resumes should already build a strong case for the claim.
But the scary thing is that majority of Monteverde’s disciples also still run rampant in the collegiate scene.
Pao Javillonar, who initially committed to St. Benilde before choosing Letran, was a vital cog of the Knights' dynastic three-peat from Seasons 95 to 98, with his hard-knocks style of play despite playing as an undersized big. After graduating this year, he is now with Converge FiberXers in the PBA.
There’s also the bumper crop of ex-Bullpups who are still with Monteverde – reliable two-way guard Gerry Abadiano, deadshot gunner Terrence Fortea, and super scorer Harold Alarcon, all of whom are in the rarefied air of being able to call themselves two-time champions with State U.
Reyland Torres and Janjan Felicilda, both of whom opted to stay in Jhocson but eventually followed suit in Diliman, have also proven themselves vital pieces from their time in the Bullpups to now with the Fighting Maroons, with Torres being the peskiest defender and Felicilda an unheralded point on the court.
Steve Nash Enriquez, one of the rare individuals to stay put in National U, remains as the lead guard for the Bulldogs and is motivated to gear up for a redemption year in Season 88, as he’s still teammates with Bullpups peer Nat Tulabut.
Echo Laure is still biding his time as a backup big in University of Santo Tomas, as the trio of Dom Dayrit, King Vinoya, and Renzo Abiera are now in Arellano, helping the Chiefs in their drive for contention and aided the squad to go 7-11 this past Season 100, while Menard Songcuya has also shown flashes on what he could do in his first year in San Beda.
Cyril Gonzales should make waves once he returns to Mapua next season, an integral addition to the Cardinals’ title defense come Season 101 following a change of heart from his brief detour in UP; Aaron Buensalida is hungry to show his worth in Letran after a short stay in La Salle; and the same goes for Kenji Duremdes who is moving to Perpetual after two years in UST.
They're NU slouches either
And that’s just the players who were in the back-to-back UAAP champion teams.
Look back farther in coach Goldwin’s time in NU and you’ll see a continued wealth of talent in that ecosystem.
Migs Oczon was part of the 2018 team which finished as bridesmaids to Kai Sotto-led Ateneo in the UAAP, but won the NBTC title. The sweet-shooting guard committed to the Blazers college and is now in Korea playing for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
Mike Malonzo, who stayed in NU for college and was part of San Juan Knights in the MPBL, is now with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters after being taken 16th overall in the PBA Draft.
RJ Minerva is also with the Quezon Huskers after his time as a Bullpup, while Paul Manalang is with the Pasay Voyagers after playing his last game for the Growling Tigers.
Of course, who could forget Rhayyan Amsali who was also decent in his lone season in the seniors division with the Red Lions before going on a religious sabbatical and then making a short stop in UST?
And we’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention the likes of Winderlich Coyoca and Jeffy Mailim who were part of that program during that time as well.
Could you imagine had this crew stayed together?
Monteverde, however, is not one to dwell on what ifs.
For him, all he wants from day one is for his players to trust the system and let their actions do the talking: that whatever they reach, as long as they gave it their all, they should always hold their head high.
That should make it clear why this level of success shouldn’t really come as a shock.
After all, it seems like everything that Monteverde touches turns into… gold, of course.
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