After handing dream school a nightmare, Cagulangan vows to live UP lessons
It’s almost poetic the way JD Cagulangan ended his career at University of the Philippines (UP) by leading the Maroons to their second UAAP title in four years over the team where he started growing his college varsity roots.
“I am happy because I did not have a good start to my career in the UAAP,” Cagulangan, who was once part of the La Salle program but just couldn’t crack the Archers’ regular rotation.
Now, he’s a two-time champion and a Finals MVP—heights of success he reached because of a transfer he made.
“[T]here was an opportunity that came up; UP welcomed me the right way and I was able to win championships because of [the Maroons],” Cagulangan told reporters.
After being recruited by La Salle Green Hills and helping it to a successful campaign in the NCAA Season 93, he moved on to the collegiate level with the Green Archers in 2019 before taking his act to Diliman a year later.
“I am still so proud to be a part of La Salle … because it was my dream school,” Cagulangan said. The spitfire guard from Butuan City in northeastern Mindanao was seen joining the Taft-based team in singing its school hymn after avenging UP’s defeat last season to the Archers.
“[W]hat happened was not the best [situation for me] but I am still thankful to [La Salle] because they took care of me when I was still there,” he said. “God won’t give you everything. There’s a part of your life when you’re going to be really down so the question is how you will overcome that challenge.”
Cagulangan had said he has no future plans yet after what he described as a rollercoaster UAAP stint.
“I don’t have future plans yet and I heard that the PBA draft is still around July or August so let’s see what will happen and I need to continue working,” he said.
But reports have already leaked that he is flying to South Korea to play as an import there.
One of the best
Despite playing his last game in a Maroons kit, Cagulangan will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play for UP. He immortalized himself with a dramatic step-back jumper against Ateneo in the Season 84 finals that ended the Maroons’ long wait for its first title since 1986.
That moment of glory came after Cagulangan struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic, where strict lockdown protocols chipped away valuable playing years of the country’s top collegiate stars.
“We were taught to overcome those kinds of things and I am thankful that there’s someone guiding us, which is coach [Goldwin Monteverde],” he said.
“Sometimes when you think too much about what happened in the past it becomes a distraction. But I told my teammates to … enjoy the process of getting [the championship] again, which we were able to do this season,” he added after avenging their loss to La Salle in last season’s finale.
He also had nothing but praise for rival Kevin Quiambao, who he had a chance to play with early in 2023 with Strong Group in a tournament in Dubai.
“KQ is different and for me he deserves everything,” Cagulangan said. “I can’t help but laugh at the bashers who say he is overrated and big-headed … C’mon, KQ worked for it and he really made us work for it and I am thankful to be a part of his journey.”
As he moves to take on new challenges, Cagulangan said he will carry several lessons he learned while in a UP uniform.
“Coach Gold said life is not fair. That made a mark on me because there are instances that our journey had its ups and downs and I realized that it’s true,” Cagulangan said. “So in everything you do, you need to give your 100 percent.
