After three straight Filoil Preseason titles, the UP Fighting Maroons now turn their attention to winning back-to-back championships come UAAP Season 88.
Winning gets addictive, as they say, and that couldn’t be truer for University of the Philippines.
Coming off a third straight championship in the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive, the Fighting Maroons remain hungry for glory and have their eyes set on the bigger prize: the UAAP Season 88 crown.
"Kailangan pang magtrabaho," said tournament MVP Gerry Abadiano.
"Sa amin naman, kailangan wag pa rin kaming makampante kasi ang pinaka-goal pa naman namin is yung UAAP."
It’s rich to hear from the soft-spoken team captain who has been the steadying force for UP throughout this preseason tourney, which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors.
Spalding supplied the official game ball, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger served as minor sponsors.
But to Abadiano, this is just another stepping stone for the team and his personal career. What matters the most for the Ilonggo skipper is to do what’s asked of him by his coach Goldwin Monteverde.
“Naglaro lang ako and nagkataon lang na ganito yung nangyari,” said Abadiano who had 13 points and two boards in UP’s 79-65 clincher over National U in the championship game.
And this recent conquest only fuels the players to stay the course and keep the idea that the job still isn’t done and they still have to put in the work.
"Hindi pa rin kami titigil. Blessing ito sa amin pero bukas, bagong challenge na naman ulit," said Abadiano.