MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines' (UP) campaign in the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball tournament may have already ended, but the Fighting Maroons remain at the forefront of Alex Cabagnot's mind.

Cabagnot joined UP's coaching staff ahead of the season, believing it is the logical "next step" for him to take as a basketball player. He was not officially given a label, but said he was simply there to give all the help he can to a promising team.

The Fighting Maroons wrapped up the tournament with a 5-9 win-loss record, their best performance in the UAAP in a long while. Cabagnot was tremendously proud of UP's performance in Season 79, especially how they were able to rise up from a 1-6 start and compete for a Final 4 spot in the second round.

"I just want to give a shoutout to my UP boys," Cabagnot told ABS-CBN News on Sunday, after he helped San Miguel win its opening game of the All-Filipino Cup against the Star Hotshots. "They worked hard all year."

"I put them through a lot of rigorous training, and they showed a lot of potential. I'm looking forward to next year," he added.

• READ: Next step in rise of UP? Fight for Final Four, says Perasol

Yet Cabagnot has yet to get over how they performed in Season 79.

"UP Fight all the way," he said, stressing that he believes the Fighting Maroons were deserving of a Final 4 spot. "I really think we should have been there."

"We don't have an import," he pointed out. "The four teams in the Final 4 – we beat two of them, and it was really close against the defending champions, FEU."

"I think about that all the time. I think about them a lot," he admitted. "I think about how we're gonna go over the hump and make the playoffs. I gave my heart and soul to those guys, and they reciprocated with their hearts and souls also."

The Fighting Maroons will be losing three players to graduation after this season, including team captain Jett Manuel who made an emotional exit from the squad in their final game of the season against University of the East.

Nevertheless, the future is clearly bright for UP, and Cabagnot is hopeful that they can finally break a long Final 4 drought next year.

"As long as we keep working hard, and as long as we keep our work ethic to a certain level, then I think God will reward us," he said.

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