Terrence Fortea finally thriving for UP

UP Fighting Maroons’ Terrence Fortea during a game against UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde is proud to see Terrence Fortea finally flourishing after being hit by injuries in his first three years in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

Fortea hit a pair of big three-point shots in the final minute to complete UP’s fourth-quarter comeback with an 83-73 win over the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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“Just being ready lang. Yun nga yung sinabi ko kung ano yung binigay ng depensa. Wala naman akong finorce doon siguro yun lang binigay ng depensa sakin so tinira ko,” said Fortea, who shushed the UST faithful part the 8,900 fans after finishing with 16 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

Coach Gold on Fortea’s progress. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/MWt6aeUtMv

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“Sabi nga ni coach Gold yung second chance points nila nung first half sobrang mataas, siguro na-eliminate namin yun sa second half, siguro sa offense namin kung ano yung binibigay ng depensa, ini-exploit lang namin,” he added.

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Monteverde, who has been the coach of Fortea since high school at NU-Nazareth, was thrilled to see his guard healthy this year and trusting his teammates with their offensive flow.

“Yung first three seasons nya, medyo in-and-out siya sa laro . He never had that rhythym na dapat niya makuha. But then I saw him work hard every practice, extra sa floor,” Monteverde said after his squad improved to 7-1.

“At the same time for me siyempre success would come from his teammates also, I believe, yung mga shots na made niya, hinahanap din siya ng teammates niya so it would come with trust also. Kung ano man yung na-achieve ni Terrence, I would say dahil din sa tiwala ng team sa kanya and ganun din naman yung tiwala ng lahat kay Terrence.”

True enough, Fortea attributed his resurgence to Monteverde’s system and his teammates’ trust in him.

READ: UAAP: UP repeats over UST to get back on track

“Kay coach Gold naman, kung ano yung tiwala na binibigay mo ganun din binibigay niya. Prinoprotektahan lang namin yun pati sa team namin at saka yung faith towards sa mga games,” he said.

Fortea also used their stinging first loss to defending champion La Salle as fuel to overcome UST’s gallant stand.

“Yung pagkatalo namin sobrang sakin nun pero sabi nga ni coach Gold, we just lost one of the battles pero the war continues. Siguro keaangan namin mag move on, yung learnings din sa game na yun madadala namin towards sa semis or sa finals,” he said.