GONE were the days when former La Salle Greenhills ace JD Cagulangan and NU-Nazareth standouts Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea were once seen to be the future of the UP Fighting Maroons.
READ: UP glad to see Terrence gonna Terrence anew in UAAP Season 87
The quartet of super seniors have etched their names in the annals of State U’s sporting history by ending a 36-year championship drought in UAAP Season 84.
While their last two Finals trips both fell one win shy of replicating their Season 84 feat, the Fighting Maroons’ leaders are already bracing for a new era in Diliman without them.
Fight for the future
To make sure UP’s winning ways won’t cease anytime soon, Fortea and the rest of the team seniors made it a point to have their young guns under their wings.
Leading that rookie class are the likes of Jacob Bayla, Dikachi Udodo and Denzil Walker alongside standout sophomores Francis Lopez, Mark Belmonte, Sean Alter, Chicco Briones, Gani Stevens (first year with UP) and the injured Seven Gagate.
Hence, there’s no better time to pass on the torch than now to keep UP’s winning fire alight.
“Unang-una, ang bilis lang ng panahon kasi mga bata na agad ‘yung teammates ko. Alam naman natin kung ano nangyari du’n sa ilang years na kami pa ‘yung mga rookies,” Fortea told SPIN.ph.
“Siguro ngayon, ang pinagkaiba sa team is mas binibigyan namin ng pansin ‘yung mga bata kasi kung anuman ‘yung mangyari at mawala kami, at least alam na talaga nila ‘yung sistema ni coach Gold (Monteverde) at nakatulong kami sa kanila.”
UP's best is yet to come
And for Cagulangan, who is in his fifth and final playing year, the Fighting Maroons still have a lot to give from here on out.
“I’m happy pero hindi contented sa game namin. Gusto ko pang mabago the way kami maglaro sa loob,” Cagulangan added.
“Happy ako para sa mga teammates ko and sana mag-tuloy-tuloy ‘yung mga (winning) moments since last season ko na rin ‘to.”
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