UNIVERSITY
OF THE PHILIPPINES FIGHTING MAROONS
UAAP Season 84 (2022) record: 12-4, CHAMPION,
2nd place after elimination round, beat DLSU
in the final four,
Beat Ateneo 2-1 in the
Finals
Coach: Goldwyn
Monteverde (2nd Season)
Subtractions: Ricci Rivero, Noah Webb, John Gob,
Will Skip Season
85: CJ Cansino (Injury)
Holdovers: James Spencer, Joel Cagulangan, Maliff Diouf, Brix
Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Harold Alarcon, RC Calimag,
Bismark Lina, Zavier Lucero, Anton Eusebio,
Additions:
Rookies: Ashon Andrews (Roosevelt High School), Aldous Torculas (UPIS), Henry Galinato Jr., Cyril Gonzales (NU-MIT)
Background:
The
Maroons are coming off the best recruitment of grade A players that helped them
fuel their campaign in season 84. The
most important move they made was to make Bo Perasol as program head, got
multi-titled Juniors Coach Goldwyn Monteverde and more importantly land the
Blue Chips that they needed to continue their rise to the top. The Maroons
landed Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea and Harold Alarcon from NU,
got CJ Cansino and Bismark Lina from UST and landed Filam Zavier Lucero who was
instrumental in their fight all season long. The Maroons used the elimination
round to get the right amount of chemistry, almost stumbled in the final four
and peaked in the finals to upset the four-peat seeking Ateneo Blue Eagles to
win their first title since 1986.
Key
changes:
The
Maroons will lose the veteran leadership of Ricci Rivero and Noah Webb. Other
than that, there are no major changes with the Maroons as they added more depth
to their team. One and done forward Henry Galinato will add depth to the
Fighting maroons and is another serviceable big man that can generate
offense. Seam Aldous Torculas from UPIS is another wing player that will be serviceable together with 6-4 Fil-am Ashon Andrews who is a true-blue rookie coming from Roosevelt High School in Washington DC. Twelve players are returning this season and the core of the team is intact.
Outlook:
The
Maroons are loaded on every spot and the funny thing is this season should be
their “coming of age” season, but this time around they are returning as
defending champions. Leading their charge are their big frontline with last
year’s super rookie 6-7 Carl Tamayo, 6-11 Foreign Student Athlete Malick Diouf,
6-6 Fil-am Zavier Lucero and 6-6 Bismarck Lina. Now you can add 6-6 bruiser Henry
Galinato to the mix then you have a frontline that can rival that of La Salle
and Ateneo. Add to that their resilient guards in game 3 MVP JD Cagulangan,
former youth campaigners Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea. Cagulangan’s
defense is merciless while Abadiano and Fortea’s shooting will give the Maroons
a different fit and point of attack. Add to that another veteran whose defense
was instrumental in the finals, James Spencer, then you have various people
enforcing great defense. With the departure of Rivero, there will ne more room
for Harold Alarcon to shine while RC Calimag, CJ Catapusan and Brix Ramos will
be getting additional minutes. Coach Goldwyn is more prepared now and his boys
have matured from the last time they played. With an intact line up the Maroons
are touted to be on top after the elimination round and will just wait for
either Ateneo or La Salle in the finals.
Prognosis:
The
UP Fighting Maroons are poised to repeat this season. The Maroons have a complete team with a
frontline that can paralyze its opponents inside game, wings that can defend
and score and more importantly guards that respond well to pressure. Lastly,
the big thing that separates the Maroons against the other teams is their big
fighting heart. It will take another miracle to beat the Maroons in the finals.
photos courtesy of UAAP Varsity Channel FB Page
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