If the country is successful in combating the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons are planning
to train and Auckland, New Zealand and Melbource, Australia as part of their buildup for the coming UAAP season.
UP coach Bo Perasol, now on its fifth year, acknowledged that the off season is key to having a good run in the regular season as players hone their skills and build the all-important chemistry and camaraderie.
“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,” said Perasol, who led the Maroons to back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 81 and 82.
Though brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaños won’t be playing in the coming season, Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero will be around to lead the Maroons.
Thanks to staunch UPMBT supporter JJ Atencio of STATS Performance Apparel, the Diliman-based squad has benefited greatly from training camps they’ve attended in Las Vegas and Serbia in the past.
UP’s consistent attendance in the skills honing and character building sessions have helped whip them into competitive shape the past two seasons.
“Training plays a vital part in preparing the players for the season. I personally targeted to come in and sponsor training abroad to help mould the mentality of the group. This is not only for their physical development but also for their mental fortitude; and for them to realize that there is much more to achieve if they set their mind properly,” said JJ Atencio who is also CEO and Chairman of Januarius Holdings Inc.
This time, the Maroons have their sights set on training in other countries. There’s training scheduled in Auckland, New Zealand for a start. But Coach Bo is open to other possibilities.
“The plans are already in place, but they all depend on how fast this (Covid19) virus thing is going to go away. 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,” added Perasol.
Being the only public school in the UAAP, Perasol admits that UP does not have a big budget to fund the team’s training camps abroad.
“That’s why we’re really thankful that JJ Atencio, despite being an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, chose to help UP to the point of being known hereabouts as the “UPMBT’s Training Dude”.
The UP Fighting Maroons plan to take part in the Fil-Oil Pre-Season Tournament in May and defend their title in the upcoming BLIA Cup in Taiwan this July.
