Senior UP players grateful for UAAP careers ‘winning’ finish
HAD it trying in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines careers, graduating players of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are happy and grateful to have been able to fashion out a “winning” finish to it all.
Captain Paul Desiderio, Diego Dario, Jarrell Lim, Gelo Vito and JJ Espanola all played their final game for the Maroons last week after they bowed to the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in the finals of Season 81.
And while their UAAP careers did not produce a much-coveted title for the Diliman-based team, they are nonetheless very proud of having helped in turning things around for the longsuffering UP basketball program and could not have asked for a better ending.
Part of the team that endured a winless season at one point and a couple of one-victory campaigns, the graduating UP players said to end up were they were on their final year was already as good as winning it all in the UAAP.
“As seniors we are grateful for what we have been able to accomplish this season. Before we were the laughingstock of the league and now to this. We could not have asked for a better ending,” said Lim as they met the UAAP media for the last time as part of the team after their 99-81 Game Two loss to the Eagles on Dec. 5.
“We’re so happy to have reached the finals on my final year with the team. Nobody expected us to be here with some saying a Final Four spot for us was not a guarantee this season. But we reached the finals,” said Desiderio, who carved his name in UP lore by embodying the “fighting” in Fighting Maroons with his now-famous “Atin ‘to” battle cry.
“When I entered in 2013 there were only a few who were watching us but today the coliseum was filled with so many UP supporters. I just hope they would continue supporting the team,” added the versatile player from Cebu.
Season 81 proved to be a breakthrough year for the Maroons as they barged into the UAAP Final Four after 21 years, a continuation on what has been a steady climb for the team in the last three years.
They then added cherry to it all by making it back to the finals after a 32-year absence, doing it by impressive fashion, overcoming a twice-to-win handicap in the semifinals against the higher-seeded Adamson Soaring Falcons.
For the senior players, what UP has become of late has been a product of trusting the process and embracing the winning culture that Maroons coach Bo Perasol is championing.
“Honestly we just trusted the process. We just made sure everybody was on the same page from the practice to the game. We’re happy it has bore fruit,” said Dario.
He was seconded by Vito, saying, “The culture has changed. The winning mentality is back, thanks to Coach Bo. He really pushed us to have this mindset and we are grateful to him for bringing that to the team.”
Both Dario and Vito also mentioned the support of the alumni and the UP community for helping turn things around for Maroon basketball.
“The support of the alumni is amazing and one of the things that is different from when we started. I think Coach Bo picked up from that,” Dario said.
Moving forward, the graduating Maroons said they hope the holdovers and those who are going to come in would build on what they had accomplished in Season 81.
“As seniors we started something this year. We want them to achieve more than what we achieved this season. I’m sure Coach Bo’s goals are the same. The pressure is always there, so there will be pressure on their part. But we’re super-excited for them next season,” said Dario, who also shared that he is now focusing on finishing his studies and continuing to play afterwards.
Apart from winning, Lim said he hopes the Maroons would continue taking to heart what their efforts can do for the whole UP community, a major takeaway for them on their final year.
“We’re happy to unite the UP community with our efforts. It’s something we will remember for the rest of our lives,” said Lim.