There are more Fighting Maroons ready to step up to the task of defending UP's UAAP title come Season 88, following the departure of JD Cagulangan.
There are big shoes to fill for the UP Fighting Maroons come UAAP Season 88.
Playmaker and Finals MVP JD Cagulangan is heading to the Korean Basketball League (KBL), along with two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao.
Mai-mai, as the Fighting Maroons fondly call JD, will be suiting up for the Suwon KT Sonic Boom. KQ, on the other hand, will compete for the Goyang Sono Skygunners.
[ALSO READ: The next stop: Previewing Kevin Quiambao, JD Cagulangan’s KBL teams]
So what happens to the rest of the Fighting Maroons come Season 88?
They may just be perfectly fine.
Letran's junior MVP Andy Gemao, who rubbed elbows with Klay Thompson and was named to the Basketball Without Borders camp, is reportedly joining UP.
[ALSO READ: High school phenom Andy Gemao's post with Klay Thompson will make everyone jealous]
When his name was floated during One PH's Power & Play, UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon raised Gemao's NU Bullpups connection with head coach Goldwin Monteverde--one that has proven to be fruitful in the Fighting Maroons' recent run.
However, Luanzon was careful not to say anything definitive on the matter.
[ALSO READ: From Sampaloc to Diliman: Goldwin Monteverde’s Day 1s bring home championship to UP]
"Well, Andy Gemao, he was our former player back when we were in NU, when coach Gold handled the Bullpups. Then he went to Letran and won a championship there. Now he's currently in Canada and just trying to hone his skills there," Luanzon commented.
He then pointed out other promising stars incoming for UP, such as former UE Red Warriors Mythical Five point guard Rey Remogat.
There's also the 6-foot-5 Fil-Am winger Miguel Yniguez, who has committed to UP after playing for the San Francisco State in US NCAA Division II.
For the foreign student athlete (FSA) position, Luanzon said there were two who would be fighting for the spot including Nigerian big man Francis Nnoruka.
And then there's going to be two more ready to fight for the Maroons after sitting out Season 87 due to injury.
One is big man Seven Gagate, who played for La Salle Greenhills in high school along with Luis Pablo and Joshua Coronel.
Gagate had to sit out due to his fractured hand.
"If he was included in the roster this season, he would have missed at least half of the season or more than half of that. That's why it was best for him and the team when coach Gold talked to him to sit it out and to heal and improve," Luanzon explained.
The same thing happened with Gagate's teammate Coronel, who's recovering from an ACL injury.
"So we got a lot of players coming in and a few going out. So it's going to be an interesting off-season, especially sa mga practices," Luanzon admitted.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: After Finals loss, Topex Robinson eagerly looks ahead to post-KQ DLSU Green Archers]