The link between the University of the Philippines’ men’s and boys’ basketball programs has become even stronger with the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development facilitating complete integration between UP and its high school located on the same campus.
With this, UP Integrated School will serve as a training ground for future Fighting Maroons in all sports, while also providing talents still in high school a golden opportunity for top-notch education and athletics.
“Today is a historic day for UP because, finally, formally, tuluyan nang magkatuwang ang UP at UPIS in terms of sports and, of course, the education it can provide for student-athletes,” said UP OASD Dir. Bo Perasol in the integration program held in Diliman on Tuesday.
The formalization of the link-up between the Fighting Maroons and Junior Fighting Maroons has been one of the top priorities for Perasol, whose mandate includes overseeing and improving State U’s athletic programs on all campuses.
“This is a necessary step for us to maximize all the assets UP already has on hand. System-wide, all Iskolar ng Bayan have so much potential, and kelangan lang nating mabigyan ng tama at totoong suporta,” said Perasol.
UPIS has been State U’s representative in the UAAP’s high school events, but the Fighting Maroons and Jr. Maroons have historically acted as separate entities.
Now, the hope is for the Jr. Maroons to be trained and ingrained even more in the Fighting Maroons culture starting at an earlier age.
UPIS has already produced several notable Fighting Maroons in Diego Dario, Aldous Torculas, and the Gomez de Liano brothers, Javi and Juan.
With this development, however, many more homegrown student-athletes are being eyed to make State U proud. At the same time, the strengthened link will set the Jr. Maroons on the path to contention.
UP MBT head coach Goldwin Monteverde made a name for himself as a multi-titled mentor in the boys’ division before leading the Fighting Maroons to a historic championship in 2022.
Through his guidance, UPIS aims to improve on its total of two wins in the last two seasons, and hopefully, add to its one and only championship back in 2002.
“Nandito tayo ngayon para matulungan yung UPIS to compete and, hopefully, ma-establish and ma-reinforce sa kanila yung want to be better every day,” said Monteverde.
“Tapos later on, matutulungan din tayo ng UPIS kasi more prepared and more determined na yung mga magiging Fighting Maroons natin.”
