After two seasons of falling short of the title, the UP Fighting Maroons are preparing for another run at the UAAP crown, relying on their core players and new additions to fill the gaps left by key departures.
Nowhere to go but up.
That has been the motto of the University of the Philippines. However, since climbing to the top in Season 84, the Fighting Maroons have failed to defend and reclaim their crown in the past two UAAP seasons.
With a new season set to unfold, is it third times the charm for UP?
Head coach: Goldwin Monteverde
Team captains: Gerry Abadiano
Key Additions: Gani Stevens, Dikachi Ududo, Jacob Bayla, Quentin Millora-Brown
Key losses: CJ Cansino, Malick Diouf, Cyril Gonzales, Luis Pablo
Season 86 record: 12-2 (runner-up)
The departure of CJ Cansino and Malick Diouf has left a huge hole for the Fighting Maroons to replace.
In Season 86, Cansino provided his steady presence and leadership for State U, while Diouf was a force on the inside, whether on offense or defense.
Fortunately for the Diliman-based squad, the team’s core remains intact with spitfire point guard Gerry Abadiano set to lead the Fighting Maroons.
Whether scoring or defending the top guards in the league, the UP team captain is ready to contribute in whatever way he can.
“Ako naman kasi, always ready naman ako. Magamit man ako or hindi, maka-score man ako o hindi, may mga bagay naman na puwede kong ma-contribute sa team,” said Abadiano.
“Hindi lang naman 'yung puro score, puwede din naman 'yung mga depensa, pag-lead sa team, and ganun na talaga 'yung role as captain,” he added.
But another question in the UP community is who will fill Diouf’s shoes.
The answer to that? More than one player.
From the looks of it, Gani Stevens and foreign student-athlete Dikachi Udodo are ready to step up to the plate.
The 6-foot-7 Stevens is finally eligible to play for the Fighting Maroons after sitting out last season following his transfer from the University of the East.
In his lone season with the Red Warriors, Stevens averaged 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game as a starter.
Now with UP, Stevens is raring to play in the UAAP again after their recent preseason tournaments.
“When you transfer, people make it sound like, 'Oh yeah, it's just a UAAP season, it's really short.' Sitting out that year and watching my teammates play, it really made me want to go out there and play with them,” Stevens told One Sports.
“With how long the offseason is, going through PinoyLiga and different tune-up games, then FilOil, it really just makes me more anxious and ready to play in the upcoming season. I'm ready to play, ready to help my guys win and get the chip back,” he added.
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Also ready to introduce himself is the 6-foot-9 Udodo, who has been named as Diouf’s successor.
“I think I'm the energy guy. I'm also the 'do the little things' guy. Chase the rebounds, chase the loose balls, crash the boards, run the floor, and try to get interceptions like those little things. I just try to outpower everybody I'm playing against. That was really my style of play,” said Udodo.
Even before entering the league, the Nigerian big man has received plenty of advice from Diouf, a former UAAP MVP.
“He [Malick] agrees it's big shoes to fill. He says to be smart about the voices I listen to, just try to pick up what's helpful to me, and just let the extra baggage be. Just pick up what's helpful, and Malick is also a religious guy, so we talk about how to just trust God and do your best every day in everything you do,” Udodo shared.
With the two big men ready to contribute the little things for the Fighting Maroons, expect State U to go all out in their hunt for another UAAP championship.
It took 36 years before UP won the title in Season 84. Maybe this time, it will only take 3.