His teammates celebrate with UP's JD Cagulangan after he was named the Finals Most Valuable Player of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finals in Quezon City on December 15, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- If UAAP Season 87 Final MVP JD Cagulangan could describe his journey with the Fighting Maroons, he said it would be like a rollercoaster.

The two-time UAAP Men's Basketball champion acknowledged it wasn't always smooth sailing during his stint with the University of the Philippines.

"Para siyang rollercoaster ride talaga. Minsan nasa taas ka, minsan nasa baba. Sa akin naman, tinulungan kami kung paano namin i-overcome yung ganung bagay. Thankful kami na may nag-guguide sa amin which is Coach Gold [Monteverde]," he said.

READ: Finals MVP JD Cagulangan ends his UP career as a champion

Before he joined the Fighting Maroons, Cagulangan started his collegiate career with the De La Salle University Green Archers.

The former La Salle Greenhills standout joined the Taft-based squad but found himself at the end of a guard heavy rotation.

Cagulangan also had to wait before his UP debut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Season 84, the 5-foot-10 guard made himself known as he helped the Fighting Maroons claim its first UAAP men's basketball title since 1986.

The next two seasons were both heartbreaking, as UP lost to the Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle.

But in his final year, Cagulangan is leaving the UAAP as a champion and Finals MVP.

"Sabi ko lang sa teammates ko, kailangan natin i-enjoy yung process kung paano namin kukunin ulit. Which is nagawa namin this season. Very very thankful ako na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako as one of the leaders," he said.

READ: UP reigns over La Salle for UAAP championship glory

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JD?

"Let's see. Kasi wala pa. Naririnig ko yung PBA Draft sa July or August pa. Let's see kung ano mangyayari. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy," he said.

The veteran guard shared what lessons he would bring from the UAAP to the next chapter of his journey.

"Sabi nga ni Coach Gold, life is not fair. So tumatak sa akin yun kasi yung laging may instances sa journey namin ni Coach Gold na ups and downs talaga eh. Narealize ko na oo nga no life is not fair. So sa lahat ng mga ginagawa mo, kailangan ibigay mo 100% mo para masabi mo ginawa mo lahat and wala kang pagsisisihan," Cagulangan said.

"Yung pagiging leader. Kasi every year nadagdagan kami ng bago. Chinachallenge kami nila Coach Gold paano namin ihahandle yung mga young guns," he added.

GAME RECOGNIZES GAME

When asked if he would consider playing again for Strong Group Athletics, under Coach Charles Tiu, he answered in the affirmative.

"Napakahelpful sa akin kasi yung experience na yun hindi nababayaran. Kasi yung mga nakakalaban mo NBA caliber player. Shoutout kay Coach Charles Tiu yung tiwala niya sa akin na maging part ng team na yun," he said.

Cagulangan played for SGA in Dubai alongside his UAAP opponent two-time MVP and champion Kevin Quiambao.

"Ibang klase si KQ kahit naglaro kami doon sa Dubai. Iba talaga. Para sa akin deserve niya talaga. Natatawa ako kasi may bashers siya… pero come on, tinrabaho naman ni KQ yun eh," Cagulangan said.

"Thankful ako na naging kakampi ko siya, naging teammate ko siya. Thankful din ako na naging kalaban ko siya kasi pinahirapan niya talaga kami. Ayun thank you kasi naging part kami ng journey niya," he said.

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