‘Big 3’ ng UP Fighting Maroons magbabalik sa UAAP Season 83
UP Fighting Maroons Big 3 Bright Akhuetie, Ricci Rivero at Kobe Paras.
MAGBABALIK ang ‘Big Three’ ng University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons sa darating na taon para maisakatuparan ang naudlot na kampanya sa nakalipas na University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 men’s basketball.
Kinumpirma nina Bright Akhuetie, Kobe Paras at Ricci Rivero nitong Linggo na magbabalik sila sa UP Fighting Maroons para sa ika-83 season ng UAAP.
Hindi naman naging mahirap na desisyon para sa tatlong star players ng UP ang magbalik sa kanilang koponan.
“After our last game, we talked about it and Kobe and Ricci said if I’m game for another season, they would be game, too,” sabi ni Akhuetie, na kinilalang UAAP Most Valuable Player sa kanyang unang season sa UP noong Season 81.
“So me, no question, I want to come back for another year and have another opportunity to win the championship for UP. Like they say, there’s nowhere to go but UP,” dagdag pa Akhuetie.
Ang pagsisikap naman ng UP community at management na magtaguyod ng “winning culture” ang nagkumbinsi ng Paras na magbalik sa Fighting Maroons.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again, every game felt like a home game because of the UP crowd. Didn’t matter where we played, they were there in full force and it was amazing,” sabi ni Paras, na ang ama na si Benjie ay nakatakdang sumama sa koponan bilang assistant coach.
“It’s also clear to us that Coach Bo (Perasol) and management want to build a winning culture here in UP, and we want to continue to be a part of that,” sabi pa ni Paras.
Sinabi naman ni Rivero na ang muli nilang pagsasama-sama para sa pagkakataong makabalik sa Finals ay isang paraan lamang para maibalik nila ang suportang ibinigay sa kanila ng pamantasan at mga tagasuporta.
“We just want to do this for the community and for all those who believe in the team. So many people have gone all in to support the team and we feel the same way—we’re all in,” sabi ni Rivero.
Sa pagbabalik nina Akhuetie, Paras at Rivero, umaasa ang UP na mauwi ang kampeonato sa Season 83 matapos mapatalsik sa Final Four sa nakalipas na season at matalo sa finals noong isang taon.
Maliban kay PBA legend Benjie Paras, makakasama ni UP head coach Bo Perasol sa kanyang coaching staff sina Ronnie Magsanoc, Joey Guanio at Xavier Nunag.
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