UP Fighting Maroons star JD Cagulangan (right) against DLSU Green Archers’ JC Macalalag (left) in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — JD Cagulangan was among those who witnessed his former school De La Salle University take the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball crown last year after a tough three-game encounter.

Despite the University of the Philippines (UP) crushing the Green Archers through a 30-point, 97-67 series opener victory, the Fighting Maroons absorbed an 82-60 beatdown in Game 2, and they eventually fell short of holding on to their lead late in the decider, in turn, allowing DLSU to end a seven-year drought to return to the top of the UAAP.

In Season 87, Cagulangan and State U are, once again, engaging in a fierce battle against their modern-day rivals in the championship stage, taking Game 1 anew after a 73-65 win against the first-seeded Lasallians.

READ: UP weathers early Quiambao onslaught, stuns La Salle for 1-0 lead

“Thankful ako sa teammates ko na nag-respond sila pagdating sa schemes namin, mapa-offense man or defense,” said the graduating guard, who paced his team with 13 points, five assists, and four rebounds.

The Fighting Maroons turned a 41-37 deficit at halftime into a pivotal victory with their suffocating defense, with Cagulangan tallying two of UP’s seven blocks and one of their nine steals.

However, for the former La Salle Green Hills guard and Green Archer, and despite the redemption that he is seeking after last year’s heartbreak, it is all about business and nothing personal — La Salle still has a place in his heart.

“Nothing against La Salle. Thankful naman ako kung ano yung nangyari sa akin,” said JD, who previously started his collegiate career in Taft Avenue in Season 82 before he moved to Diliman.

Cagulangan won an NCAA juniors title and a Finals MVP award when they defeated the then-Malayan Red Robins in Season 93 (2017), which is why he is grateful to La Salle for how they helped shape him to where he is today.
UP Fighting Maroons star JD Cagulangan (left) helping his former LSGH Greenies teammate and DLSU Green Archers guard Joshua David (right) in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from UAAP Media.“‘Di rin naman nila ako pinabayaan nung nandun ako,” added JD, who even assisted his former Greenies teammate Joshua David when the latter was dealing with cramps in the second half.

And with the winner that was back in Green Hills, and has continued after earning a championship for the Fighting Maroons in early 2022, what Cagulangan solely wants at present is to exit the UAAP as a champion once more, regardless of it coming at his former school’s expense.  

“For my last season para sa UP, and championship yung pinaguusapan, very thankful talaga ako and sobrang laking tulong din sakin especially papunta na ako sa next level ng career ko,” said the 5-foot-10 floor general, who has already expressed his desire to enter the PBA after his college career. “So yeah, I hope manalo kami.”

READ: Life after UP — PBA Draft preps among Cagulangan’s motivations in senior year with Maroons

For Cagulangan, closing out the series and avoiding last year’s result is now a matter of getting prepared for the fightback that the Archers will show in Game 2,

“After this game, babalik kami, mag-eensayo ulit and i-rereview namin yung lapses namin offense man or defense,” he emphasized.

“Di naman natatapos yung series sa Game 1 lang so babalik kami. Of course, maga-adjust yung DLSU sa kung anong ginagawa namin so lagi lang kaming ready kung anong challenges na mahaharap namin sa Game 2,” he added.