With the impending departures of top University of the Philippines guards Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Janjan Felicilda, the Fighting Maroons are already preparing for life after the so-called “Maroon 5.”
Less than two weeks before the start of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, defending champion UP secured the commitment of Fil-Canadian Elliot Dimaculangan — a former US NCAA Division II guard who once played alongside UE’s Hunter Cruz-Dumont at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.
UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times during the school’s Renewal of Partnership event with Nowhere to Go But UP, Robinsons, and Top Breed, held Monday morning at the UP Executive House in Quezon City.
“Si Elliot kasi is a long wing man. Ang hindi common sa mga Pilipino dito kasi, mahahaba. He can really play at ang maganda dito, hindi pa finished product si Elliot,” Perasol told Tiebreaker Times.
“He can be a better player pag nabigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon.”
In three seasons at SFU, he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on a 33-percent clip from beyond the arc.
Then Dimaculangan entered the transfer portal following a sudden coaching change.
Perasol and head coach Goldwin Monteverde later invited the 6-foot-4 guard for a workout after he withdrew his commitment to NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference squad Northwest Nazarene University.
It was during these sessions with the Fighting Maroons that Dimaculangan had a change of heart. He turned away from NNU and chose to come home to the Philippines, aiming to strengthen UP’s pursuit of men’s basketball dominance in the years ahead.
“Nagi-invite kami sa kanila to practice with us, to train with us, para makita kung talagang bagay. At manararamdaman din ng player kung ito ba talaga yung team na okay sa akin. Gusto mo ba yung campus? Gusto mo ba yung aura ng environment? Gusto mo ba yung mga kakampi mo? Yun ang ginawa natin sa kanya,” Perasol revealed.
“Na-convince naman siya.”
Perasol added that it remains uncertain whether Dimaculangan will be a one-and-done guard or a ‘two-and-thru.’
Dimaculangan joins Veejay Pre, Russel Ogana, James Payosing, Rainer Maga, and Arvie Poyos as Maroons in residency for Season 89.
