Season Exit Interviews: Aboy Castro (UP)

Rick: How would you assess the Maroons’ performance this UAAP season?
Coach Aboy: I think e progressed from our first game of the season all the way to the last. Of course there were difficult times but we played well towards our last four games where sumabay naman kami sa ibang teams before faltering.

Rick: If there’s anything you would have done differently what would it be?
Coach Aboy: I can’t think of anything right now except that we had three months only to prepare. Maybe that’s it… more time. As you know, pare, we only got our appointment with the season soon to start and we had to triple time our preparation. Araw araw kami nag-practice. We almost never took a day off. Matagal na yung two days na we didn’t do anything. Even during Holy Week and Easter Sunday we were practicing. We told the boys that sacrifices were to be made if we wanted to get better.

Rick: What’s next for your team?
Coach Aboy: We just finished taking stock of the season – kaming mga coaches. Tomorrow, it will be one-on-one with the players. We want to find out how they felt, what they expect, what we all need to do to get better. We will take a break for their studies and exams and for their bodies to heal then we begin practicing for the Fr. Martin Cup. We hope to begin recruiting because we want to get better. We want to field a taller and more athletic team. If you noticed, Rick, we were the youngest team in the league. We have experience now and with maturity we will play better.

Rick: You were tearful during the singing of the alma mater of your last game.
Coach Aboy: (laughs) Napansin mo, ha? (laughs). Well, it was a mixture of relief. Kasi tapos na yung first season then I was overwhelmed. Singing “UP Namin Mahal” and seeing people from all sides whether they were in blue or green cheering us, singing with us, it was a sign of appreciation and respect. It was respect for our program and what we achieved. You saw that we lost two players to injury. Doon pa lang kung pwede I wanted to not play anymore but hindi naman pwede. You want to go out better. At the same time, it was Jay Agbayani’s last game so it was emotional for us all. Halo halo na. It was emotional for us all.

Rick: Who do you think will win the UAAP title?
Coach Aboy: (laughs) Alam mo kaibigan natin lahat yan. All I can say is when there’s a champion, the other three teams will come back better and stronger next year making my work doubly more difficult. I wish them all the best, partner. Thanks for supporting us. It means a lot. And I’ll see you soon.

Rick: Ayt, coach. Thanks too and congrats! UP Fight!