00:00 Now joined by UP Fighting Maroons veteran player CJ Cancino. CJ, what was the difference in
00:06 the UP Fighting Maroons being able to establish an early lead against LaSalle and never looking back to go up 1-0?
00:12 Well, in a team like this, we know that LaSalle has already won a few games.
00:20 We can't afford to start a bad game.
00:26 So we really need to give a good start and I'm happy that we were able to do that.
00:32 So in recent years, when you're winning, usually there's a chance that the lead disappears and it becomes close at the end.
00:40 What was the difference about today? What did your team do that you thought, "Okay, the lead won't disappear today"?
00:46 Well, I think we've learned from past games this season.
00:51 We know that sometimes, if we start well, we can catch up.
00:56 And I'm happy that in the first game, in the elimination, it happened to us.
01:02 So after the Final 4 and the Finals, we brought those learnings and we learned that
01:09 when we win, we don't need to come back.
01:13 You were in a similar situation like this last season, right?
01:16 Up 1-0 against Ateneo, Ateneo wins games 2 and 3.
01:19 So as the captain, the veteran, being in that situation last year,
01:23 how are you going to remind your team that we've been here before but let's not let the same thing happen again?
01:28 Well, I always remind them, you know, the pain we felt last season
01:34 that we won game 1 and then we let game 2 and 3 go.
01:40 And you know, the motivation that they give is different because of course, it's painful.
01:45 If they remember that, and I also reminded them that after game 3, I said,
01:51 you need to feel the pain, you need to remember the pain because
01:56 we will remind each other that if we reach that situation again,
02:01 we will make sure that we learn again.
02:04 That we will learn something from that game.
02:07 Are you already getting a little bit emotional that this might be your final UAP game
02:11 coming up this weekend, maybe next Wednesday?
02:14 Of course, I want it to be my last game on Sunday.
02:20 And of course, it's emotional because it's a long journey, I've been through a lot,
02:25 there are a lot of people, and hopefully, it will be my last game on Sunday.
02:30 One of the guys that you've mentored in this team is Aldus Terculles,
02:35 who you've been very close with since you arrived at UP.
02:38 So watching him perform the way he did today in the finals like that,
02:41 how proud does that make you?
02:43 I'm very proud because I saw the up and down of the kid.
02:48 The type that sometimes calls me if he needs help because he loses confidence.
02:56 And of course, as a brother, I'm very happy that he performed well in the end,
03:04 his character came out as a player, and you know, he's a big help to the team.
03:09 So I'm very happy for him.
03:11 Thank you, CJ.
03:12 Thank you.
03:13 (speaking in foreign language)
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