University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons arrived in Serbia as part of their preparations for the upcoming UAAP Season 86.
The Season 84 champions are set to play six tuneup matches in their overseas training camp, including a game against the under-18 Bosnian team. Last month, UP won its first-ever Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup title over the De La Salle Green Archers. Also joining the Fighting Maroons is sports director Bo Perasol as they begin their redemption after failing to complete their back-to-back title run against eventual champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in three games. While UP saw the departure of its standouts in UAAP Season 85 Mythical Five member Carl Tamayo who turned pro in the Japan B.League and the two-and-through forward Zavier Lucero, the squad has seemingly won the recruitment wars with the addition of promising rookies in Francis Lopez and Mark Belmonte. According to Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, Lopez and Belmonte have filled the void left by Tamayo and Lucero in their rotation. Lopez’s eligibility for Season 86, though, still remains unclear. Former University of the East Red Warrior Gani Stevens has also jumped ship to UP and will see action for the team after Season 86, replacing UAAP Season 85 MVP and big man Malick Diouf in the post.
The Season 84 champions are set to play six tuneup matches in their overseas training camp, including a game against the under-18 Bosnian team. Last month, UP won its first-ever Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup title over the De La Salle Green Archers. Also joining the Fighting Maroons is sports director Bo Perasol as they begin their redemption after failing to complete their back-to-back title run against eventual champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in three games. While UP saw the departure of its standouts in UAAP Season 85 Mythical Five member Carl Tamayo who turned pro in the Japan B.League and the two-and-through forward Zavier Lucero, the squad has seemingly won the recruitment wars with the addition of promising rookies in Francis Lopez and Mark Belmonte. According to Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, Lopez and Belmonte have filled the void left by Tamayo and Lucero in their rotation. Lopez’s eligibility for Season 86, though, still remains unclear. Former University of the East Red Warrior Gani Stevens has also jumped ship to UP and will see action for the team after Season 86, replacing UAAP Season 85 MVP and big man Malick Diouf in the post.