Perasol sees big rebound for UP

MANILA, Philippines - After making inroads last season and winning back fans with their gutsy stand, there’s no way to go but up for the University of the Philippines Maroons.

Virtually counted out after a 1-6 start, the Maroons unleashed a major fightback and breathed life into their Final Four aspirations in the last UAAP basketball competitions.

They won four of seven games, including a stunning win over the Ateneo Eagles to start off their second round, and only fell a win short of forging a playoff for the last semis berth with the Adamson Falcons.

“We need to build into that momentum which we created when we were able to get some strings of wins in the second round of the last season,” said UP coach Bo Perasol.

“If we could be the team that doesn’t back down against anybody, I think we would be in a good place all the time.”

Things, according to Perasol, are now falling into place.

The UP mentor expressed confidence foreign student Ibrahim Ouattara and Cebuano recruit Jun Manzo can help the Maroons sustain their winning drive.

Ouattara, a towering 6-foot-9 recruit, could help the team intimidate their rivals while Manzo is expected to bedevil the opposition with his devastating mix of jumpers and crossovers.

 “I’m very happy with the response of the community basing on the crowd which supported us in the last few games,” said Perasol.

With the support of Mighty Sports, Robinsons retail (through Robina Gokongwei-Pe) and Chooks to Go (through Ronald Mascariñas), Perasol said they intend to compete in various tournaments to gain more confidence in time for UAAP Season 80 in September.

“My players need more experience so I’m very thankful for the support of Mighty Sports, Robinsons and Chooks to Go,” said Perasol. “We can conduct a number of mini training camps all throughout the summer to enhance our skills and conditioning as well.”

The Maroons will be without Jett Manuel, Dave Moralde and Henri Asilum, but the community is confident that guard Paul Desiderio and Javi Gomez de Liano, the versatile forward out of UP Integrated School, will continue to prosper under Perasol’s watch.

Further down the road, the team will be more formidable with the arrival of Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie from University of Perpetual Help.

Akhuetie will undergo a one-year residency before he becomes eligible to play in the 2018 UAAP season.