Nobody who followed the start of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Baseball Tournament would have pegged the University of the Philippines as a Final Four contender.

After all, the Fighting Maroons lost UAAP Season 86 MVP and former captain Ian Mercado to graduation, and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Aaron Nicha in the middle of the opening round.

Nonetheless, despite suffering a heavy defeat to De La Salle University at the start of the second round, UP eventually showed its potential, winning three of the last four games en route to a third straight playoff for a place in the semifinals.

Head coach Iking Jimenez did not issue a challenge but rather a proposition: keep fighting, regardless of the outcome. That mindset paid off as the team responded with stronger play, which team captain Nano Asuncion attributed to adjusting to the rigors of the competition.

“Sa tingin ko ‘yung iba, lalo na ‘yung rookies, kailangan pa nilang [mag-settle down]. So parang na-culture shock kasi bago pa lang, pitcher pa naman ‘yung rookie namin. And hindi naman pare-pareho lahat ng pagkapasok sa tournament, okay agad, tao lang tayo. Sa tingin ko, sa second round lang sila nagising; do’n lang sila tumapang, which is better late than never. ‘Yun lang para sa ‘kin,” said the UP shortstop.

Asuncion also believes the team’s collective objective became clearer as the tournament progressed, reflecting the effort they put into training to improve and show up when it mattered.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

“Siguro ‘yung chemistry ng team; mas nabuo kami. Tapos ‘yung mga sakripisyo na nakatutok lang kami sa tournament; noong Holy Week hindi kami nagpahinga, nag-training kami, early mornings. Dinadamdam namin lahat ng ginagawa namin para hindi masayang. Kasi lahat naman ng teams dito nagpapakahirap, pero gusto naming isipin na para sa ‘min talaga ‘to… ‘yung gold,” said the 23-year-old standout.

“Siguro kasi nung first round titingnan agad namin ‘yung susunod na game, ‘yung susunod na makakalaban. Pero ngayon, iniisip naming, one pitch at a time, one out at a time, one inning at a time. Puro gano’n na lang, isa-isa muna. Tsaka na ‘yung long shot, darating na ‘yon.”

Asuncion sat out the previous season to take care of matters outside baseball, but he always knew he would eventually return to the sport he loves. Stepping away gave him perspective, which proved invaluable when he returned and was later chosen as team captain.

“Well, I had my own battles outside. Pero ‘yung nga sabi ko, na-miss ko ‘yung baseball, siyempre; na-miss ko ‘yung team. Tsaka noong high school, hindi ako nakakuha ng gold. Gusto kong umalis ng college na naka-gold,” he shared.

“Para sa ‘kin, parang ano lang ako eh, extra guidance, nasa background lang. Ang sabi ko nga, I’m as important as them, I’m just a player, too. We’re all here to win,” the captain added.

With the heartbreaks of the past two seasons—failing to make the Final Four despite having playoff chances—now behind them following last Tuesday’s win over University of Santo Tomas, Asuncion and the Fighting Maroons are setting their sights higher: the championship.

“Para sa ‘kin, hindi pa tapos ang laban. We’re going for gold. Hindi kami andito para lang makapasok sa Final Four. Hindi lang kami andito para maka-third, or -second. Andito kami para sa gold,” Asuncion boldly declared.

“Wala lang bibitaw. ‘Yon nga, isa-isa lang. Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, one pitch at a time, one inning at a time.”

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