COACH Goldwin Monteverde has proven he can hack it with University of the Philippines when he guided the Fighting Maroons to their first UAAP title in 36 years and a bridesmaid finish last year.
UP is now hoping Monteverde can reprise his success when he takes over the Junior Fighting Maroons program.
“To ensure sustainability of the program, especially now that UP’s aspirations are high, is to have an integrated and well-coordinated basketball program from high school to college,” UP program director for basketball Bo Perasol said as he endorsed Monteverde to UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez. “We want to recruit players from around the country that will excel not only in basketball but will also survive the rigors of UPIS academic demand.
“Those young players, with proper training programs and exposure, will make sure our program in the UPMBT continues,” he added.
Perasol endorsed the integration of the UP basketball program from high school to college and the appointment of Monteverde as concurrent coach of both the seniors and juniors’ teams.
Perasol said UPIS will get ample support like its seniors’ counterpart, from recruitment and screening, academic support and tutorials, strength and conditioning, skills training, team building, basketball data analytics, improvement of training facilities, among others.
“We hope to replicate our experience in the seniors’ program and elevate the juniors’ program to become more competitive and hopefully to be back in the final four and aim for championship,” Perasol said.
Perasol added that even the current Juniors’ tactician, Paolo Mendoza, in a consultation meeting last year, “yearns for such change and supports the integration and the direction of UP’s basketball program in Diliman.”
The success of the juniors’ squad will bring more attention and support to other UPIS sports programs like volleyball, swimming, athletics, among others, and expand assistance from the broader UP alumni community.
Once the UP Administration gives its go-signal for the integration of UP Diliman’s basketball program, Perasol said it would serve as a big boost for the continued success of the Maroons and the Junior Maroons
