University of the Philippines in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup. Photo from FilOil EcoOil Sports.MANILA — University of the Philippines has a larger target on its back as it enters the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
READ: Seoul searching — Fighting Maroons reunite with Cagulangan, Tamayo before title defense
Back as being the hunted after their championship glory in Season 87, the Fighting Maroons are banking on their poise and experience in their title retention bid, with their seniors dubbed “Maroon 5” leading their campaign this time around.
“Sa buong UAAP, lahat naman gusto mag champion, so consistency pa rin ang kailangan namin,” UP team captain Gerry Abadiano told ABS-CBN News. “Alam naman namin yung standard ng team namin, so dapat tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa ganun.”
Twice the champs in the previous four seasons and finalists in all of those years, Abadiano, Goldwin Monteverde, and company have successfully flipped State U’s program from the “bonfire” years and the “Atin ‘To” era to one of the perennial powerhouses of the UAAP.
But while Abadiano is putting an emphasis on maintaining their level of play, they are aware that other teams are not that far behind.
“You can expect every team to be more competitive,” emphasized UP deputy Christian Luanzon. “I’m sure that nothing is automatic to anything in life, let alone a competition between eight teams wherein all are invested.”
This is why while off-season trips have become a norm for the Diliman-based squad, the version of their preparations this year went into higher gear.
The Maroons, aside from their championship run in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup, travelled across the world in recent months.
From Serbia, to Japan, and then to Korea, UP went through thick and thin ahead of their return to the Philippines.
“Playing professional teams really helped, and what’s important for us now is ipagsama-sama lahat ng experience namin and the things we learned,” said Luanzon of State U, which was even booted early out of the World University Basketball Series in Tokyo. “Pero pag start ng UAAP, ‘di pa rin naman yun natatapos.”
And while the Maroons’ WUBS campaign ended with them at the bottom of the eight-time tourney, Abadiano said that it served as an eye-opener for them.
“Doon namin nakita yung mga kailangan naming i-improve as a team and as individuals,” he said. “Sa amin kasi, laging pinapaalala ni Coach Gold yung growth mindset. Hindi dapat namin isipin na kapag ‘di namin nakuha yung gusto namin, pangit na yung kalalabasan ng UAAP, kasi part yun ng proseso.”
Help is on the way
Aside from the lessons they got from their overseas trip, the Maroons will also have a number of new stars to lean on in place of the departure of Season 87 Finals MVP JD Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez who all have gone to the professional ranks.
“Those are big shoes to fill,” Luanzon admitted. “But what Coach Gold is reminding the team is not to try hard to fill in those shoes because each player here is handpicked from No.1 to 16. Bawat player ay importante, and every player is unique, it’s just a matter of blending the right mix.”
Former University of the East star Noy Remogat and young studs Miguel Yniguez and Migs Palanca will be finally available this season, but for Luanzon, they need not look far in search of someone who will provide might and power for UP.
“Gani Stevens has improved a lot not only in terms of filling in the role left by QMB and Francis, but he has also matured a lot on and off the court. Very evident yan from his body transformation,” he said of the other ex-Red Warrior on their roster.
For Friday
An unfortunate development that clouded the team was the passing of one of its recruits, Nigerian big man Israel Friday, last August 20.
“It was tough. It’s beyond basketball, you are talking about life itself,” said Luanzon of the 6-foot-10 Friday who was previously with Centro Escolar University. “With us, as coaches, our relationships with players are so short.”
READ: UP Fighting Maroons recruit Israel Friday passes away
And for Luanzon, UP will be even more inspired to play as a family come Season 88 as they dedicate it to Friday.
“He was just with us for less than a week, but yung sandaling panahon na yun, nakita namin na he was a hard worker,” he said. “He was more than his talent, so we will miss him and he will surely be a part of our journey this season.”
The UP Fighting Maroons. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.UP Fight!
From understanding the hunger of the hunters, applying the lessons from overseas, leaning both on their seniors and their other key cogs, to playing with added purpose, the Fighting Maroons are locked in than ever for their bid for a repeat.
“Mas nag resonate sa amin yung turo ni Coach Gold, na every practice and every game is a championship,” Luanzon reflected. “So hopefully, makita namin yung growth pagdating ng Season 88.”
It is now just a matter of patience and application for State U, as the defending champs are set to open their campaign on Sunday, September 21, 4:30 p.m., against Season 88 hosts University of Santo Tomas at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España, Manila.
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