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UAAP: Coach Perasol vows UP Maroons will be ready when season starts

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/05/18/coach-perasol.jpg"/><figcaption>UP head coach Bo Perasol. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- There is some frustration within the University of the Philippines (UP) coaching staff as the novel coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to their preparations for the next season of the UAAP.The Fighting Maroons had plans to travel to New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan for training camps and tournaments, but those had to be scrapped when the government implemented the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19.&quot;All those were already funded,&quot; lamented UP head coach Bo Perasol during an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGUAdBxRfi4">online coaching seminar</a>, hosted by former Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia. &quot;Pero, wala tayong magagawa eh.&quot;UP assistant coach Ricky Dandan, who also joined the seminar, added: &quot;It&#x27;s a bit frustrating, of course not just for me or for us here but for everyone, because we were already beginning to show some signs of cohesion when we were starting our program for the season.&quot;&quot;Then this pandemic happened, but you really can&#x27;t do much about it but look forward and look positive to it,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/nba/news/2020/05/16/kai-sotto-039-s-new-agent-worked-deals-lebron-kd-dame-68233">READ: Kai Sotto&#x27;s new agent Aaron Goodwin worked lucrative deals for LeBron, KD, and Dame</a></li></ul>Most of the Fighting Maroons are back in their homes, with the exception of Senegalese center Malick Diouf who is still in their dormitory. The UP coaching staff is doing what they can to help the players stay fit, with their trainers sending individual conditioning programs to the Fighting Maroons. Perasol is the first to admit that it is not an ideal situation.&quot;In my opinion, napaka-hirap talaga para sa mga players natin, even if we&#x27;re going to give them individual programs,&quot; he said.Working out in their own homes, without the benefit of a basketball court, is a far cry from practicing with the team in UP&#x27;s facilities. The one thing that gives Perasol some relief is that virtually every UAAP team is in the same situation.&quot;Lahat naman, pantay-pantay eh. Unless may mga gym sa bahay ang mga players at magkakaroon sila ng mga skills training, but at this point, I really think that all things are equal right now,&quot; he said.&quot;The situation is not unique to us,&quot; Dandan said, for his part. &quot;Lahat naman ng teams, even in the PBA, are in the same boat right now.&quot;For the UP coaches, their priority at the moment is making sure that all of their players are safe in their homes. They make sure that their management checks in on Diouf, and they have Zoom meetings every week to catch up with their players.The fate of the UAAP&#x27;s 83rd season is still unsure, given the parameters set by the government when it comes to mass gatherings -- including sports events -- in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Perasol is certain that if and when the UAAP begins, his team will be ready.&quot;I really think that with the roster that we have, if it&#x27;s going to be complete, we have a team that&#x27;s going to be in contention,&quot; said Perasol.&quot;I think that we have planned well for this, the coaching staff, the management, as well as our supporters, our support group. We were able to plan this ahead, and yes, we will be ready whenever the season is going to start,&quot; he said.The Fighting Maroons had a historic campaign in Season 82, as they had a 9-5 win-loss record to claim the second seed, which came with a twice-to-beat advantage in the stepladder semifinals. Unfortunately for UP, they fell to University of Santo Tomas in two games.Even before the pandemic hit, UP already had a challenging road ahead when brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano declared that they were going to sit out the season. But the Maroons will still have former Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie, Mythical Team member Kobe Paras, and Ricci Rivero.All of them are ready to get back to work, once allowed, said the UP coaches.&quot;If the government allows even three, four players at a time with two coaches, we&#x27;re going to grab that situation and start preparing for the new season, whenever it comes,&quot; said Dandan.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>).

There is some frustration within the University of the Philippines coaching staff as the novel coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to their preparations for the next season of the UAAP.

There is some frustration within the University of the Philippines coaching staff as the novel coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to their preparations for the next season of the UAAP.

UAAP: Coach Perasol vows UP Maroons will be ready when season starts

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UAAP: Coach Perasol vows UP Maroons will be ready when season starts

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 18, 2020 01:01 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

UAAP Season 83

UP Fighting Maroons

Bo Perasol

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