JD Cagulangan will look to rally the UP Fighting Maroons once more, as they head to the winner-take-all Game 3 championship game on Sunday.
JD Cagulangan will play another winner-take-all Game 3 Final in his last year with the UP Fighting Maroons.
The 24-year-old superstar guard and the Fighting Maroons looked poised to finally end their Game 2 curse after leading by as many as seven points with less than three minutes to go in the game.
But in that span, the DLSU Green Archers, led by reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips, suddenly willed their squad for a 76-75 victory to live and fight another day.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Cagulangan, who finished with 16 points in the match, remained in high spirits, knowing that State U still has one more game to try and bring home its fourth UAAP title in the team's history.
“Sabi ko lang na hindi pa naman tapos so may Game 3 pa. And sana manalo kami dun sa Game 3 na 'yun, and of course paghihirapan namin 'yun,” Cagulangan told reporters after the match.
“Hindi madali 'yung laban na 'yun. Pag-aralan namin kung ano 'yung lapses namin, and matuto kami sa kung ano 'yung pagkakamali, and sa mga magagandang ginawa namin and babalik kami sa Game 3,” he added.
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The Fighting Maroons seemingly had all the momentum in the second half behind Cagulangan’s strong third-quarter push.
Back-to-back three pointers by the do-it-all guard gave UP the lead at 54-52 before firing another one for a five-point cushion in the third.
“Hindi siya totally take charge talaga, kasi nagkataon lang naman na sakin 'yung mga shots,” Cagulangan admitted. “Para suklian ko mga teammates, sa coaches ko, kailangan ko itira nang may kumpiyansa sa sarili.”
Cagulangan will try to rally his troops once more in what is expected to be the most anticipated game this Season 87.
“Move on lang [sa Game 2]. Kakalimutan kung ano 'yung nangyari sa Game 2. Pag-aralan and then onto the next na sa Game 3,” said Cagulangan.
Game 3 will be on Sunday, December 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.