Super sophomores make strong impact

Kirby Mongcopa and Cielo Pagdulagan are only in their second University Athletic Association (UAAP) campaigns, but both are already making every possession count.

The two young stars have quickly established themselves as key figures for Far Eastern University (FEU) and National University, respectively, with Mongcopa powering the Tamaraws to three straight wins and Pagdulagan making a strong return for the Lady Bulldogs after missing all of Season 88.

Their standout play earned them the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Player of the Week citations for the period of 26 September to 4 October.

Mongcopa has been FEU’s top performer throughout the win streak, leading the Tamaraws in all three victories.

He opened with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against University of the East, followed with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block against defending champion La Salle, then saved his best scoring night for University of the Philippines with 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

The FEU sophomore earned the nod from scribes covering the college beat over teammate Mo Konateh, Ateneo de Manila University’s Kieffer Alas and Travis Roberts, Adamson University’s Monty Montebon, and National University’s Paul Francisco.

Yet even after helping FEU knock off the last two champion teams in succession, Mongcopa is keeping the Tamaraws grounded.

“I'm just thinking that the season is still a long way off and a lot more will happen. We still need to work. Just because we won today doesn't mean we're going to let up, so we'll keep working," Mongcopa said.

Pagdulagan, meanwhile, is making the most of a return that came a year later than expected.

Now in her third year but only her second UAAP campaign, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year and Finals Most Valuable Player was forced to skip the entirety of Season 88 due to illness.

She delivered a pair of strong outings to kick off her comeback season, with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists against Adamson, backed by 11 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal over Ateneo.

After spending the previous season watching her teammates from the sidelines, Pagdulagan returned to the court with a different perspective on what it means to be healthy and available to play.

“Last year, I was really so sad because, of course, I couldn't play. It's hard to just watch while seeing your teammates fighting out on the court," Pagdulagan said.