By NIKOLE JAVIER
University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are now in Serbia as part of their preparations for the upcoming UAAP Season 86.
The Season 84 champions are scheduled to play six tune-up matches in their overseas training camp, including a game against the under-18 Bosnian team.
UP, which won its first-ever Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup title in June over the De La Salle Green Archers, will be training for two weeks in the country of NBA superstar Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
UP Sports Director Bo Perasol and coach Goldwin Monteverde headed the delegation as the team is determined to make amends after failing to complete their back-to-back title bid. They lost to Ateneo Blue Eagles in three games last season.
While UP saw the departure of its standouts in UAAP Season 85 Mythical Five member Carl Tamayo who turned pro in the Japan B.League and the two-and-through forward Zavier Lucero, the squad has seemingly won the recruitment wars with the addition of promising rookies in Francis Lopez and Mark Belmonte.
According to Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, Lopez and Belmonte have filled the void left by Tamayo and Lucero in their rotation.
Former University of the East Red Warrior Gani Stevens have also jumped ship to UP and will see action for the team after Season 86, replacing UAAP Season 85 MVP and big man Malick Diouf in the post.
