LSGH trio Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, Josh Coronel commit to UP

La Salle Green Hills standouts Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, and Josh Coronel are taking their talents to Diliman.

The University of the Philippines welcomed Pablo, Gagate, and Coronel to the Fighting Maroons on Friday.

UP director for basketball operations Bo Perasol, in a statement, said they are impressed with the three players' attitude off the court.

"Their accomplishments on the court are well documented, but what has really impressed us is their character and maturity," said Perasol. "We feel extremely blessed to have Luis, Josh, and Seven on our team."

Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, meanwhile, said the three players have the potential to contribute to the team's competitiveness next season.

"It all boils down to hard work. If all of our rookies take their cue from the veterans and work hard, our team will do well," Monteverde said.

Pablo came off an impressive MVP season as he posted 17.64 points and 13.36 rebounds per game at the end of his stint with the Greenies.

In an interview with the media on Friday, Pablo said picking a college team is crucial as it does not only involve playing basketball.

"Ang hinahanap ko pong program is maaalis ako sa comfort zone, mapapahirapan po ako kasi at the end of the day para sa akin naman po 'yun. [May] high level na practices and players para mas mataas po ang chance ko mag-improve as a player and [may] coach na marami po akong matututunan not just in basketball but in life," Pablo said after their runner-up finish against Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights in the finals on Thursday.

("I was looking for a program that would take me out of my comfort zone and make it hard for me because at the end of the day, that's all for me. High-level practices and players so that there's a better chance to improve as a player and has a coach that I can learn a lot from not just in basketball but in life.")

"College po is a crucial part ng buhay natin, marami tayong matututunan sa college and madadala po natin hanggang sa pagtanda natin," he added.

("College is a crucial part of our lives, we can learn a lot in college and we carry that until we grow older.")

His teammate, Gagate, who was a part of the NCAA Mythical Team and was named Most Improved Player, posted 15.64 points and 12.86 boards per match.

Coronel, however, sat out the season due to an ACL injury.

The three were part of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team which participated in the 2022 FIBA U18 Asian Championship in Iran which finished sixth.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News