by Rey C. Lachica
DUBAI – The University of the Philippines will be taking its preparation for next season’s UAAP to another level.
If plans push through, UP coach Bo Perasol will bring his team to Las Vegas to undergo a week-long training at the famed IMPACT gym before going to Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, to enhance the team’s knowledge about European basketball in June.
“That is my plans right now, hopefully, our sponsors will help us again,” said Perasol who is here to support Mighty Sports in the 30th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Mighty Sports, according to Perasol, is one of UP’s sponsors, and one of the members of the sports apparel and accessories team is UP star Juan Gomez de Liano.
A master motivator, Perasol said the planned Vegas trip is aimed at toughening up his players at the ultra-modern training sports facilities as they prepare for what could be a grudge rematch with the Ateneo Eagles.
In what many labeled as “Battle in Katipunan”, the Eagles prevailed over the Maroons in their best-of-three title showdown.
Though he’s not saying it aloud, Perasol is determined to bring the Maroons back to the finals and bringing his team to either Las Vegas or Belgrade — it depends on the team’s budget — is part of his grand plan.
“We reached the finals last year because we learned a lot from our camp in Belgrade, so hopefully we will do better if we also train in Las Vegas,” said Perasol.
This early, Perasol is happy with the way his star players – Kobe Paras, Richie Rivero, and de Liano – are doing in practice and spending time with each other outside the court.
“We are close to each other and I am excited to play with them,” said de Liano.
The troika of Rivero, Paras, and de Liano could emerge as the most exciting and explosive partnership in UP history since the era of Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano.
Good thing for Perasol, his three star players can play in different positions.
