Did LSGH twin towers Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate jointly decide to come to UP?

Having six-foot-seven Luis Pablo and six-foot-eight Seven Gagate in the frontline would probably be the wish of every single team in collegiate basketball.

After the two towed La Salle Green Hills to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball tournament, it will be the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons' turn to have a chance to fully maximize the twin towers' potential.

With the two being teammates in the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team in the FIBA U-18 Asian Championship as well as the LSGH Greenies squad, did they jointly decide to take their talents to the Diliman-based squad?

Pablo, the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball Most Valuable Player, admitted that their duo is an effective one, which was a factor in their decision to go to UP.

"Sobrang, para sa'kin, effective po namin ni Seven pag magkasama kami sa court," Pablo said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday. "Naging factor din po na 'yung pagsasama namin, pero di naman kami sabay nag-decide."

("For me, Seven and I are effective when together on the court. It was a factor but we did not decide together.")

"Kumbaga [naisip] lang po namin na 'yun nga po, maganda po ang effect pag magkasama kami sa court, naisip po namin na gusto pa sana namin magsama pa sa paglalaro."

("We thought of it like we are effective when we are together so we wished we could still play together.")

Gagate, the NCAA Most Improved Player, on the other hand admitted talking to Pablo about UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

"Medyo pinag-usapan din namin saan po gusto namin. Siyempre gusto namin magsama and sinabihan ko po si Luis na trust[ed] ko si Coach Gold," said Gagate. "Nabilib din po siya dun sa past na nag-champion, 'yung players na nag-improve so factor din po talaga 'yun."

("We somehow talked about where we wanted to go. We want to be together and I told Luis that I trust Coach Gold. He was also amazed by their previous championship, the players who improved, so it was a factor.")

On top of their on-court chemistry, Monteverde was actually one of the major reasons why the two decided to join one of the country's emerging programs.

"Pinili ko ang UP dahil sobrang tiwala po ako kay Coach Gold and program ng UP," said Pablo. "Nafe-feel ko po na [ang] maitutulong ko sa team na 'to is kung anuman 'yung role na ibibigay sakin at ng coaching staff, lahat ay gagawin ko po nang 100% and gagampanan ko po 'yung role na ibibigay nila, kahit ano po 'yun para makatulong sa team.

("I chose UP because I trust Coach Gold and UP's program. I feel that what I will contribute to the team is being willing to take on any role given to me. Whatever it is, I will give my 100% just to help the team.")

Gagate, echoing Pablo, said he believed in Coach Gold because he was "proven" and "tested". Gagate also knew Monteverde as his brother Shannon also played for Monteverde in a previous team.

For Monteverde, more than the height, it was their skills that would be a perfect fit for the Fighting Maroons, especially with Zav Lucero and Carl Tamayo leaving the squad.

"Nakita natin 'yung kakayanan nila. 'Di sila yung big na play inside lang. They could play from inside and the outside, they could dribble the ball. Carl and Zav would be out for the season so pagpasok nila would be perfect for the team," said Monteverde.

("We saw their talent. They are not just bigs who play inside. They could play from inside and outside, they could dribble the ball. Carl and Zav would be out for the season so their entry would be perfect for the team.")

"I'm positive na ready mag-step up sa role na ibibigay itong sina Luis at Seven. Alam ko na mapupunuan 'yung kakulangan dahil sa pag-alis ng aming former players," echoed UP men's basketball program director Bo Perasol.

("I'm positive Luis and Seven are ready to step up to the role they will be given. They will fill the loss that will be left by our former players.")

UP has been on a roll in recruitment recently as they got the commitment of other players such as Lebron Lopez and Sean Alter.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News