Job's not done as Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate continue quest for title, this time with UP

The quest for a basketball title continues for Luis Pablo and Seven Gagate.

Months ago, the big men towed La Salle Green Hills to the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball finals against Colegio de San Juan de Letran. However, the Greenies were swept by the eventual champions Squires in the finals.

Now with the University of the Philippines, rookies Pablo and Gagate have another chance for a basketball title as the Fighting Maroons head to the UAAP Season 86 Finals.

"Sobrang thankful and siyempre ang dami ko pa ring dapat matutunan. Thankful ako na nabibigyan ako ng opportunity na kahit papaano ma-expose sa court and makapaglaro kahit papaano," Pablo told GMA News Online.

"Masaya pa rin ako na finals pero iniisip ko pa rin na di pa tapos. Ayoko namang maulit 'yung nangyari sa nakaraang finals kaya di ko pa iniisip na mag-celebrate hangga't di pa kami champion," he added.

(I'm really thankful and there's still a lot to learn. I'm thankful I was given the opportunity to somehow be exposed on the court and somehow play. I am happy I'm in the finals but it's not yet over. I don't want what happened during my last finals to happen again so I don't want to celebrate yet until we become champions.)

For the two, this finals stint will somehow serve as redemption from missing the high school basketball crown in the NCAA.

"Parang ganun na nga siya. Pero para rin sa sarili ko kasi last time, feeling ko nga nagkulang ako. Ito ang parang redemption ko para sa sarili ko," Pablo said. 

(Somehow yes, but it's also for myself because last time I felt that I missed on something. This is also a redemption for myself.)

Gagate echoed Pablo, adding that they now have the help of their teammates to achieve that goal.

"Of course, kasi nung sa high school namin, kulang kami ng tulong. Now, sakto kami sa tulong so redemption din talaga 'yun," said Gagate.

(Of course, because during high school, there's less help. Now, we have enough so somehow it's redemption for us.)

It's more special that they are still together in this new chapters of their careers.

"Sobrang saya na first year namin tapos finals agad pero 'yun nga, 'di pa tapos," Pablo said.

(I am very happy that in our first year, we made it to the finals but job's not yet done.)

"Sobrang proud ko rin sa kanya kasi siyempre, galing lang kami ng high school nung una, ngayon nandito na kami sa UAAP. Dream din namin 'to so proud kami sa isa't isa na nakapag-step kami sa goal namin," Gagate shared.

(I am also proud of him because we were just in high school then, now we are in the UAAP. This is also our dream so we are proud of each other that this is another step in our goal.)

UP will face De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 86 Finals on November 29.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News