THIS EARLY, University of the Philippines’ Fighting Maroons are being tipped as one of the favorites to take home the championship in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball later this year.
Rightfully so, the Fighting Maroons will return with its core that finished runner-up last year, led by UAAP MVP Bright Akhuetie, Juani and Javi Gomez de Liano, Jun Manzo, Jerson Prado, David Murrell, and Frederick Tungcab.
Adding into the mix are former De La Salle University Green Archers forward Ricci Rivero and incoming UAAP rookie Kobe Paras who have experience playing college ball in the States.
Fighting Maroons head coach Dolreich “Bo” Perasol, however, refused to dwell with the expectations as one thing he needs to resolve is how to incorporate Rivero and Paras into the UP’s key returnees.
“I think we’re going to struggle integrating Ricci and Kobe in the beginning,” Perasol said. “But just like any other good thing, it has to be ugly first, so we’re ready for that. We’ve been through that before.”
“Ang pinaka-bottom line objective namin is how to get them to jell together as quickly as possible,” he added. “If you’re going to have those two as two of your main players, they need to play with all the others, as many games as we can this offseason.”
And that games that Fighting Maroons wanted will start with their two-day exhibition basketball match against the Iloilo PRISAA team this weekend in Passi City and Iloilo City.
The Fighting Maroons will first battle the Iloilo selection at 3 p.m. today at the City of Passi Arena in Passi City before having their second encounter at 10 a.m. on Sunday in University of San Agustin Gym.
Aside from the mentioned above, also in the Fighting Maroons’ roster for the two-day exhibition are Antiqueño Felixberto Jaboneta IV, Bacolod City native Jose Piero Longa, James Spencer, Will Gozum, and Noah Webb.
The Fighting Maroons could not expect a walk in a park from the Ilonggos as they will parade a fighting lineup that is led by ILOPRISAA MVP Fritchard Dulce, Hiljohn Cartagena, Marvin Cuerbo, and foreign players Jeffakins Aguarra and Ojuola Emmanuel.
Also in the ILOPRISAA team are local collegiate standouts Ghade Mark Lingga, June Bantilaran, Christiane Alabe, Rayghan Panizales, Alec Leanny Villanueva, Japphet Sampiano, Nelson Tandog, Aron Jay Aspiras, Zaldy Patizar, Dionel Fatla-onag, Miguel Sasuman, Elcyd Pascual, and Dan John Saladar.
“Even if we are underdogs in this two-day exhibition, we will promise the Ilonggo fans we will give the University of the Philippines men’s basketball team a good fight,” said coach Genesis Sasuman.
This will be the third time for the Fighting Maroons to play in Western Visayas after participating in a pocket tournament in Passi City in July 2018 and playing in Pototan two years ago./PN
