Fighting Maroons, haharabas sa abroad

SA hangaring mas mapalakas at mapataas ang antas ng pagiging kompetitibo, nakatakdang magsanay sa abroad ang University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons – may anim na buwan ang nalalabi – bago ang opening ng University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 83 sa Setyembre.

Sa pakikipagtulungan ng UPMBT supporter JJ Atencio ng STATS Performance Apparel, nakatakdang tumulak patungong Las Vegas at Serbia ang Diliman-based squad para sa mas malalim na pagsasanay.

“Off-season training is going to be the baseline of how you will do in the regular season. So, whatever it is that you do in the off-season is going to dictate what your season is going to be,” paliwanag ni head coach Bo Perasol. “The plans are already in place, but they all depend on how fast this [COVID-19] virus thing is going to go away.”
Dagdag pa nito, “we are going to train and play in Melbourne, Australia, as well and we’re also supposed to go to Taiwan. But we’re still on the lookout for more training opportunities that will make us experience a highly competitive tournament before the UAAP starts.”

Matatandaan na kinapos ang koponan nitong UAAP Season 82 na makasampa sa Finals matapos mapataob ng UST Growling Tigers.

Sa ngayon, inaasahan na mag-step up para sa Fighting Maroons sina Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero at Bright Akhuetie matapos mapagdesisyunan nina Juan at Javi Gomez de Liano na lumiban para sa Season 83 ng torneo.

“The countries we go to are usually places where basketball is big. The development there is way ahead of us, so that is where we benefit from new technologies, new advancements, new ideas, new ways to train,” punto pa ni Perasol. “Besides looking for training opportunities, we also look to compete in pocket tournaments here and abroad to give us different points of view, a different experience and different kinds of play.”

Inamin ni Perasol na kumpara sa ibang UAAP member na pawang pribado, ang UP ang tanging state university sa liga kung kaya’t limitado ang kanilang budget. Ang pagsuporta ni JJ Atencio ay tapik sa balikat ng Maroons.