Months ago, Lawrence Mangubat had a heartbreaking finish in the NCAA juniors basketball tournament as the Mapua Red Robins missed the finals in Season 99.
Now, he is a champion as the Cardinals took home the NCAA Season 100 crown.
Mangubat admitted that transitioning from high school to college basketball was challenging, but it's all worth it.
"Nangyari itong lahat dahil kay God. Siya lahat. Siya lahat nakakaalam sa anong career ko at 'yun, sa mga coaches, thank you," a grateful Mangubat told GMA News Online after the Cardinals' win against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde last December 7.
"Grabe eh, galing sa juniors, pinagharapan ko talaga 'to," he added.
In his high school stint with the Red Robins, Mangubat had averages of 18.44 points, 5.89 rebounds, and 1.78 assists in the juniors tournament.
Mapua, however, fell to eventual runner-up University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the Final Four which had the likes of high school Most Valuable Player Amiel Acido, now with University of Santo Tomas, and Mark Gojo Cruz, who also stayed in Las Piñas.
Now in his first playing year in college, Mangubat already proved his worth as he posted 9.06 points, 4.06 rebounds, 2.17 assists, and one steal per game.
The rookie also said he really prepared hard for his stint with the Cardinals.
"Pinag-extrahan ko talaga 'to. Yung katawan ko, galing ako sa taba eh, tapos grabe 'yung extra ko para makatulong sa team, kaya 'yun, sinuklian ko 'yung binigay na tiwala ng mga coaches namin," he said.
Moving on from the heartbreak that he felt after missing the finals months ago, Mangubat said he already knew they were going to be crowned champions when he was making a late free throw in Game 2.
In front of thousands of fans, Mangubat was trying to contain his emotions while taking the shot.
"Habang nag-free throw ako, naiyak na ako eh," he shared.
"Naiiyak ako pero pinigilan ko lang talaga. Binuhos ko na lang after laro ko na."
While Mangubat already achieved a feat early in his career, the rookie said this is just the start for him and the Cardinals.
"Sa rookie year [ko], nakuha namin ang champion. Matagal pa ako sa Mapua eh. Ilang taon pa ako diyan kaya susulitin ko na. Mag-stay naman ako sa Mapua dahil sa coaches na napalapit ako."
"Next year naman ulit. Rest [muna], tapos next year. Kung kaya namin back-to-back, kakayanin."
—GMA Integrated News
