GAMES SATURDAY
(UST Quadricentinnial Pavilion)
2 p.m. – FEU vs. Ateneo
4:30 p.m. – Adamson vs. La Salle
REIGNING champion University of the Philippines is set to parade a team now without some of the key cogs in the Fighting Maroons’ title win last season.
But the goal remains the same—annex a first-ever two straight triumphs in the Big Dance.
“Our team this year, obviously we lost a lot of players, but the goal remains the same for us in terms of our commitment on and off the court as a team that we’re trying to build since the start of this season,” UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon said yesterday during the 88th season’s launch at the Gloria Maris restaurant in San Juan.
“We have a couple of new faces because of the players we lost last year and hopefully it’s going to be enough for our ultimate goal pagtapos po ng season na ito,” he added.
With the exit of former aces JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez and Quentin Millora-Brown, the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored UP five will pin its hopes on Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Chicco Briones, Gani Stevens and transferee Rey Remogat.
The opening ceremony of the new cage wars themed “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action” is slated on Friday at the UST campus with grand celebration and festivities expected—a Eucharistic event at the earlier part of the program and parade of student-athletes, the oath of sportsmanship, and the symbolic lighting of the UAAP cauldron later at night.
Fans are also up for electrifying performances, a drone display, wall projection mapping, fireworks, a surprise number, and a “Hope Concert” to close the night in true Thomasian fashion—recalling the energy of “Paskuhan” and the “Welcome Walk.”
“The gates of España are now wide open, and the stage is set. To the entire UAAP community, we are ready to give our all and let out the loudest roar this season,” UAAP 88th season President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said.
“This year, we rise to the challenge—bigger, bolder, and more spectacular than ever before.”
On Saturday, last season’s runner-up La Salle clashes with Adamson University at 4:30 p.m. after Far Eastern University and Ateneo open the curtains at 2 o’clock.
“I hope we’ll have an exciting season and I’m looking forward to the games this Saturday and good luck to all of the teams,” basketball commissioner Jai Reyes said.
