UP's Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda and Reyland Torres. UAAP Media/file photos
MANILA – The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are in the final stretch of preparations for its title defense in UAAP Season 88 Men's Basketball.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, UP OASD Director Bo Perasol the team is heading to its final training camp in South Korea on Saturday.
This is the last training camp of the Diliman-based squad after heading to Serbia and competing in the World University Basketball Series in Japan.
Perasol admitted they lost a lot of key players from the Season 87 championship run like UAAP Season 87 Finals MVP JD Cagulangan, big man Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez.
READ: UP reigns over La Salle for UAAP championship glory
"Tuloy-tuloy talaga yung preparation ng team going into Season 88. Alam naman natin na malaki yung naging nawala in terms of personnel sa UP, with the departure nila QMB, Francis Lopez, JD Cagulangan," he said.
"But whoever is there in the team right now, they are really wanting to step up para sa mga void na naiwan ng mga players na yan. And to make sure that we will have another good chance of winning the championship," Perasol added.
Perasol believes the so-called "Maroon 5" composed of veterans Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda and Reyland Torres will continue UP's winning culture despite a different look squad.
"Sila yung mga nagsimula yan nung unang mga championship hanggang ngayon. Ito na yung last year nila. They should be able to carry that burden in terms of communicating to their teammates kasi maraming bago dyan eh. to their teammates kasi maraming bago dyan," he said.
"Hindi madali kasi magbuo ng kultura of winning. Sila yung parameters, sila yung boundary na ito yung dapat natin gagawin as a team. Kasi naniniwala ako na mas magiging mahirap sa kanila to compete this season. It doesn't mean na hindi nila kaya, but in terms of personnel, minsan nama-match pa na sila ng mga ibang teams," Perasol added.
PERASOL ON WUBS DEBUT
The UP Fighting Maroons went winless in their debut in the World University Basketball Series, bowing to Korea University and the University of Sydney.
Perasol looked back at their campaign, saying they were able to play three more games in Tokyo.
"So nadagdagan yung mga games namin and then when we went first game against the eventual champion, which is the Korea University, talagang mahusay naman talaga yung team na yun. I'd say na we would have brought our A1 game, and kung A1 game namin, mahihirapan pa rin kami to beat them. So, I think we did well against them," Perasol said.
READ: UP celebrates UAAP Season 87 championship with bonfire
"And then against Sydney, who's also a very formidable team, natalo din kami. But, all in all, kasama talaga lahat yung mga lessons about winning and losing and the good thing about that is hindi pa counted yun sa UAAP. Importante that we learn our lessons and how to get better from there," he added.
Despite their performance in the WUBS, the Diliman based squad still have a lot of fight and championship experience with them.
The UP Fighting Maroons are coming off a three-peat in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup and a lot of promise despite a different squad.
UAAP Season 88 is scheduled to kick off next month.
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