Initially arriving at UP with two other La Salle Greenhills teammates, Josh Coronel now remains the only Fighting Maroon from his batch entering UAAP Season 88.
And then, there was one.
Josh Coronel remained as the only player left from La Salle Greenhills in the current UP Fighting Maroons lineup, following the departures of Luis Pablo and Seven Gagate.
Last month, it was revealed that Gagate transferred out of Diliman and went to the DLSU Green Archers after just playing one full season with UP. Gagate's move came after Pablo also went to La Salle from the Fighting Maroons.
[RELATED: UP confirms Seven Gagate exit ahead of UAAP Season 88]
But for Coronel, who has yet to see UAAP action for UP as he sustained two ACL injuries in his ongoing stint with Fighting Maroons, there was a deep sense of gratitude as the team kept him in Diliman despite all that’s happened.
“Syempre, nung una palang naramdaman ko na yung supporta sakin ng UP and vina-value ko yun, sobra,” Coronel told One Sports during the UAAP Season 88 Content Day.
“Ngayon na healthy na ulit ako, gusto ko masuklian yung tulong na binigay nila sa akin,” he added.
Coronel transferred to UP right out of high school with the Greenies but he had already suffered an ACL injury.
Then, just as he was set to play for the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87, he was once again sidelined with a second ACL injury during the pre-season.
Now that he’s finally ready to get loose, Coronel said that he’s just taking it all in.
“Nagl-learn lang ako every day sa practice lalo na sa mga veterans namin, and ayun, syempre, dinadahan-dahan ko rin na mabalik yung dati kong laro. For me, no rush naman kasi first season ko pa lang to and there’s so many things to learn pa,” he said.
As for who helped him get through everything, Coronel credited those closest to him, and of course, the UP team management which continued to place trust in him even when he faced uncertainty.
“Syempre, yung family ko and yung mga friends ko and syempre yung management namin, yung coaches. Hindi talaga nila ako pinabayaan and talagang pinush nila ako na ilaban yung sitwasyon ko. Thankful ako na ito na ako ngayon,” said Coronel.
Coronel heads into UAAP Season 88 as defending champion with the Fighting Maroons, and after falling short of the hardware during his last campaign in high school, Coronel is eyeing success in the UAAP.
“Sobrang excited ako dahil may chance ako maging part ng season na to and ayun, hopefully maging champion ulit kami and maging part ako noon,” he said.
Coronel will be joined by the likes of Choi Palanca, Noy Remogat, and Francis Nnoruka among the newcomers.
Veterans Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, Harold Alarcon, and Janjan Felicilda will provide experience and championship DNA in the UP roster.