Ivan Lazarte embraces final Mapua ride amid early Season 102 struggles

Ivan Lazarte is determined to make his final playing year with the Mapua Cardinals count, drawing motivation from the team’s early-season struggles as they continue their NCAA Season 102 campaign.

Lazarte delivered one of his best performances in a Mapua uniform against the College of St. Benilde Blazers, but his effort fell short of preventing another Cardinals breakdown in the fourth quarter of that game.

Looking back, Mapua endured several heartbreaking losses before finally securing a breakthrough victory against San Beda, although Lazarte missed the game after falling ill. He returned in their succeeding win over Arellano, putting up solid numbers once again as the Cardinals followed it up with another victory against Emilio Aguinaldo College.

For Ivan, every setback serves as a reminder of what the Cardinals must work on, turning their heartbreaks into fuel to bounce back stronger. Rather than dwell on their losses, Mapua is determined to learn from its mistakes, trust the system, and find ways to respond on both ends of the floor.

“Doon kami kumuha ng motivation,” he shared, stressing how the team must embrace its shortcomings and use them as a driving force to get back on track.

The graduating Dumaguete native also expressed his confidence in his coaches and teammates, appreciating their efforts despite the team’s difficult stretches. “Naniniwala ako sa coaches, sa teammates ko na kaya nila ’yun. Sobrang thankful ako sa sacrifices nila,”.

“Promise namin sa community na every game, ibibigay namin yung best namin. Sana suportahan n’yo kami lagi, samahan n’yo kami sa ups and downs namin. Ibibigay namin yung best namin para sa kanila,” Lazarte emphasized, as he hopes to make the most of his remaining games in a Mapua uniform and give the Cardinals faithful a campaign worth rallying behind.

Photo Credits: NCAA Philippines Media