Prior to UAAP Season 89, the University of the Philippines announced that UP Integrated School would no longer represent the school in the high school ranks of the Boys’ 19-and-Under Basketball Tournament.
Instead, UP Cebu is set to take over as the university’s representative in the competition, with UPIS standouts Jhustin Hallare and Bruce Tubongbanua also transferring to the Cebu campus.
The developments have left the status of UPIS’ 19-and-under basketball program uncertain, with head coach King Vergeire admitting that he has yet to receive any word from the school administration regarding the team’s plans.
“Honestly, as of now, wala pa talaga. I can’t really tell anything, dahil wala pa akong alam diyan,” said the young mentor, who was also a standout of the said high school program.
Vergeire, however, is aware of the possibility of UP Cebu fielding a guest team for the season. Nonetheless, he stressed that the plan remains under discussion.
“I think it’s still up for discussion. Kumbaga, hinihintay lang namin ‘yung everyone. ‘Yung mga approval ng higher-ups and everyone. So, I think it’ll be a collective decision,” said Vergeire, who also serves as the head coach of UP’s 16-and-under side.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Last season, UPIS was also rumored to sit out the competition. However, the school eventually fielded a team bannered by Gilas Boys standouts Hallare and Tubongbanua.
Vergeire recalled that the possibility of UPIS not participating was only confirmed once the announcement was made public.
“Ang decision naman was, it’s not in the picture until it was posted. Pero, during last season, wala naman talaga,” Vergeire recalled.
For now, though, Vergeire is shifting his full attention to the team currently carrying the UP colors in UAAP Season 89.
The second-year head coach of the 16-and-under side praised his wards for their strong start against the University of Santo Tomas but acknowledged that they still have plenty to work on, particularly when it comes to maintaining their intensity for the entire 40 minutes.
Vergeire also lamented the team’s struggles from the free-throw line, which he felt could have significantly altered the complexion of the game.
“Definitely, I just want more maturity on our end. For us to miss 27 free throws, I think that’s the ball game right there. We lost by nine, we missed those free throws,” Vergeire said.
“I think we could have gone better.”
