Sticking together led both Seven Gagate, Luis Pablo to UP Fighting Maroons

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle-Greenhills twin towers Luis Pablo and Seven Gagate have a few options to play in college, but their main mission remains.

Initially, Gagate was scheduled to join the University of the Philippines after several dialogues, but the great LSGH-Benilde also convinced Pablo, the MVP of the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament, to join the trip.

“We really talked about where we will play. Of course, we want to play together and I told Luis that I believe in coach Gold,” said Gagate in Filipino in an online media scrum on Tuesday.

At the mention of playing together, Pablo almost immediately agreed, already realizing what a collective effort can do by pulling the LSGH-Benilde team to the NCAA men’s basketball Final against Letran.

“Me and seven are effective when we are together on the court. That is a big factor, our bond. Our effect is good when we are inside, so we think we will play together,” said Pablo.

And with the departures of Zav Lucero, who is tired of his playing year, and Carl Tamayo, who has yet to take his talent abroad, Pablo and Gagate have shoes to fill.

FIT FOR THE PROGRAM

Pablo, however, knows more than crumble under pressure, stating that Monteverde’s system should not play like Tamayo or Lucero.

“I know that the coach’s view of us is different from the previous players like Carl and Zav. Our goal is to do the role that will be given to us. What we want is to fulfill the role to help the team even in the first year to get good results.

Monteverde said he had watched Gagate’s path before he had the chance to play in the NCAA.

“At the time, Seven’s thoughts on basketball were very young, but his oldest sister, Shannon, was a third-year recruit at 6-foot-3. At the time, her sister (Thea) was 5’11. It was a family. athlete, so there is potential,” said the champion coach.

“Now he (Pitu) at 6-foot-8, is probably the tallest among his brothers.”

Pablo, on the other hand, got the attention of Monteverde and UP basketball program director Bo Perasol before the NCAA season where he will cop the best player of the season.

Monteverde said Pablo was “the man UP was looking for.”

“In Luis, since a year ago, we don’t know if there will be an NCAA or not, we’ve seen him in Batang Gilas. He’s a tall guy and good on the ball. He’s the guy we’re looking for in the UP program.

After moving the twin towers from Greenhills to Diliman is Joshua Coronel, who will not be able to play in the UAAP Season 86 due to his recovery from a leg injury.

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