UAAP Season 87 Finals MVP and UP Fighting Maroons star JD Cagulangan after their Game 3 victory over the De La Salle Green Archers, December 15, 2024, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.MANILA – The University of the Philippines’ main man JD Cagulangan is a UAAP champion once again.

The 5-foot-10 star guard concluded his career as a Fighting Maroon just like the way he started it – a men’s hoops champion – and this was after they completed their story of redemption against De La Salle University through a 66-62 victory in Game 3 of the Season 87 Finals on Sunday.

“Wala akong masabi kundi thank you,” said Cagulangan after the game. “Sobrang happy ko na napunta ako sa programang ito. Winelcome nila ako ng maayos, at deserve ng UP na manalo this season. Gusto ko mag thank you kay coach Gold.”

“Nagtiwala siya sakin kahit ‘di niya man ako naging player pero yung tiwala niya nandoon,” he added of the trust and love that State U head coach Goldwin Monteverde gave him.

READ: UP reigns over La Salle for UAAP championship glory

It was an eventful year for Cagulangan following their Season 86 heartbreak against the Green Archers in 2023.

After the exits of UP veterans CJ Cansino and Malick Diouf, Cagulangan took the mantle of being the Fighting Maroons’ leader, a tough task to live up to especially since he was steering a retooled roster that featured the likes of new players Quentin Millora-Brown, Jacob Bayla, and Gani Stevens.

“Yung papasok nung January, kinausap ko yung teammates ko,” said the outgoing senior, who was named as this year’s Finals MVP after posting 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks in the Finals.

“Sabi ko lang sa kanila: ‘Wag nating kalimutan yung pagkatalo natin nung dalawang nakaraang season pero alalahanin natin yung mga pagkakamali natin,” added the hero of their Season 84 championship after he hit a buzzer-beating trey against Ateneo de Manila University in early 2022 to end a then 36-year title drought.

During the eliminations, after an impressive showing in their earlier games, the former La Salle guard then sat two games due to an injury, one of which even came in their first-round loss to La Salle.

JD and UP lost once more to the Taft-based cagers in the second round, and also adding to their woes was their stunning defeat against National University just before that game.

However, despite those circumstances, the former Green Archer was able to pace his squad through the storm as they entered the Final 4 and the Finals after taking care of business against University of Santo Tomas in the semis, and DLSU in the championship round.

“Sabi ko lang, enjoy the process. Alam naming mahaba pa noon, at marami kaming ups and downs,” said Cagulangan on how he helped his team.

Aside from his leadership and on-court prowess, Cagulangan also dished out the credit to their team captain Gerry Abadiano, saying that it was the former NU Bullpup who kept them in check, especially in their struggles.

“Very thankful din kami sa captain namin which is Gerry Abadiano,” pointed out the Season 87 Mythical Team member. “May mga times na yung morale nung team, pababa na, pero andoon siya. Na-guide niya kami ng maayos kaya thankful rin kami kay Gerry,” he added.

Eventually, after losses to Ateneo and La Salle in the Finals of Seasons 85 and 86, respectively, Cagulangan is a winner again. Nothing can take away from him the fact that just before he turns professional, he will exit collegiate ranks as a two-time UAAP champion.

“Sa buong UP community, thank you talaga,” he expressed. “Wala akong masabi kasi nao-overwhelm ako sa suporta kahit saan kami magpunta, so thank you.”

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