Will Gozum is keeping his fingers crossed that there wouldn't be a case of deja vu here as his De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde squad is now on the verge of winning the school's second NCAA title that is 22 years in the making.
Back in 2017, Gozum was a dominant force in the high school ranks, copping that year's Most Valuable Plum with the Mapua Red Robins during the Season 93 juniors basketball tilt.
But his award was spoiled when the La Salle Green Hills Greenies won the title to dethrone Mapua.
And Gozum, who was recently crowned the NCAA Season 98 MVP, is hoping the same won't happen this time around.
"Nakuha ko 'yung MVP then natalo kami sa Game Three pero 'yung time naman na 'yun ay against LSGH so ngayon nasa Benilde na ako eh, so 'yung mga teammates ko kilala ko na," Gozum said on Sunday.
Gozum was the runaway MVP winner after garnering 49.88 Player Average Value (PAV) to steer the Blazers to a Finals appearance for the first time since 2002.
Now on the cusp of a championship, Gozum is aiming to complete his unfinished business from high school. But the 6-foot-6 bruiser knows the job won't be easy as Colegio de San Juan de Letran will try to set the seal on its three-peat bid.
"Hindi naman ibibigay ng Letran 'yan nang madali sa amin pero kami, focus lang kami. Job's not done for us," Gozum added.
"Gusto naming makuha 'yung championship para buong CSB community masaya and patuloy kaming suportahan."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
