The party was getting louder at the Sunken Garden inside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus during the bonfire ceremony last Monday.

And why not, the Fighting Maroons just sealed their second University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) title in three years, marking the height of its golden age that is far cry from a decade ago when they were treated as whipping boys of collegiate basketball.

In the middle of the revelry was UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, who just finished having his pictures taken with some fans before granting a short media interview in a dark, quiet corner somewhere at the back of the stage.

While the son of film icons Remy and Lily Monteverde is being pointed as the main reason for the Fighting Maroons’ dominance in UAAP Season 87, the 54-year-old coach swears it was a long journey to get to where he is today.

The UAAP Season 87 was an emotional ride for Monteverde.

In fact, Monteverde’s parents passed away prior to the start of the basketball wars this season. His father succumbed to pneumonia on 29 July while his mother, a heavyweight in the show business industry, died on 4 August due to an undisclosed reason.

“My mom and dad died a week apart. What stuck to me is whenever there was a game, they would try to watch,” said Monteverde, speaking with sadness in his eyes.

“They have been my inspiration. All the life lessons I learned as a kid, I now pass it on to them.”

But what made the title sweet was what happened inside the court.

To win the title, the Fighting Maroons beat the mighty De La Salle University — the only team to beat them twice in the eliminations that sent them to the No. 2 spot entering the Final Four.

Monteverde said they had to work hard for the title, not just to redeem themselves from the heartbreaks of Seasons 85 and 86, but also to serve as a beacon of hope for the UP community.

“Seeing them bounce back from two straight finals defeats, I’m proud of them. It means a lot to me and for other people to see someone get up, fight and return to the top,” Monteverde said.

“Getting two championships in four finals appearances, it’s because of the support of the whole community.”

“From the support ng community, managers, and coaching staff, everything was in synergy. Everybody worked hard for one common goal.”

Monteverde is no stranger to the UAAP.

The 54-year-old mentor gained traction after calling the shots for Adamson High School from 2014 to 2017 and National University-Nazareth School from 2017 to 2020 where he would make the Final Four for the majority of his career.

With the core of Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, Gerry Abadiano, Reyland Torres, Janjan Felicilda and Harold Alarcon, the Bullpups won back-to-back UAAP juniors’ basketball titles in 2019 and 2020.

Their 2019 title was truly memorable for Monteverde as they swept past an Ateneo de Manila University that had Geo Chiu, SJ Belangel, Forthsky Padrigao, and Kai Sotto, the country’s best bet to make it to the National Basketball Association.

“That year was challenging because we had to stop Kai as a team,” Monteverde said.

“Aside from his size, he is a smart player so we really had a hard time stopping him.”

While the whole world was still trying to get back up from the effects of Covid-19, Monteverde was chosen by UP to lead its school’s men’s basketball program.

Monteverde said coming into Diliman, he just wanted to continue the groundwork laid down by head coach Bo Perasol, who was eventually appointed as director of the UP Office for Athletics and Sports.

“It’s an honor being here in UP and I just continued what they started. They talked to me and had some interviews in the university in 2021,” Monteverde said.

“Our goal was to get this team to the finals.”

With Bright Akhuetie, Javi and Juan Gomez de Liaño, Will Gozum and Kobe Paras exiting UP after their Final Four finish, Monteverde brought in most of his championship crew in the junior division along with college stars CJ Cansino, Malick Diouf and JD Cagulangan.

A year later, Cagulangan’s buzzer-beating three-pointer in Game 3 of Season 84 finals ended the Maroons’ 36-year wait for a title.

“There was constant communication in practices, we would view game films and do our adjustments. We engaged as a team and I think through that, we improved our chemistry as a team,” Monteverde said.

“We had close games that season. The team’s mentality was that as long it can be done they will fight for it. We managed to win that game because the team never gave up what goals they had.”

When the celebration died down, UP endured two more finals heartbreaks, losing to the Blue Eagles in Season 85 before settling for a silver medal once more in Season 86 against the Green Archers before finally gaining redemption in Season 87.

More than championships, Monteverde wants his players to thrive in their chosen paths.

With Tamayo and Quiambao playing in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) for the Changwon LG Sakers and Goyang Sono Skygunners, respectively, Monteverde said he feels proud seeing his former players in high school reach greater heights.

Cagulangan is also set to play in the KBL with the Suwon KT Sonicboom.

“Looking back as a high school coach, the goal is to see them go from high school, college and eventually the pros. I can say I am a good coach if I can do that,” Monteverde said.

“I’m very proud of all of them.”

Then, Monteverde politely excused himself to rejoin the team in the festivities.

It was a mission accomplished for him. With two UAAP titles, successful former players and the love and respect of the entire UP community, there was nothing Monteverde could ask for.

Truly, he raised the bar so high — not just as a basketball coach, but as a person as well.