The University of the Philippines men’s basketball team was rewarded with the entry of a major supporter as Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) formally announced its partnership with the Fighting Maroons on Monday, March 18, at the Executive House in UP Diliman.

The partnership came following BPI’s successful merger with Robinsons Bank Corporation earlier this year as Robinsons Retail (RRHI) was originally one of UP’s long-time backers for 13 years. 

In 2022, the State U made history after ending a 36-year title drought for the school’s third championship in Season 84 and has since made the finals for three seasons in a row. 

The Fighting Maroons, though, are hoping to completely heal from the pain of their back-to-back championship losses with a busy offseason schedule starting with local tournaments before heading to their mid-year overseas training in Serbia and South Korea – something that BPI was fully onboard with in hopes of fully materializing their mutual vision. 

“Very thankful [for the sponsorship]. Every time naman na may tutulong sa atin siyempre blessing ‘yan. With the kind of commitment that we have in the UP MBT, as long as possible, we want to be competitive every season. Kailangan natin ng support [from BPI] with the same vision. ‘Yun ang number one,” UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said. 

“[We’re joining the] same preseason leagues like last year. Also, may plans din kami to go abroad, play overseas. I think this June we’re going to Serbia. Then followed by South Korea in August. We just have to have more competitive games for the team,” he added. 

Last season, the Fighting Maroons finished the men’s basketball action as the top seed in the elimination round for the first time before unfortunately falling short against eventual champion De La Salle in their historic collision. 

With renewed support from the banking giant, Monteverde is leaning on the team’s ability to cope from the pain that came from two big misses. 

“Siyempre ‘yung pain of losing like that laging andiyan. It’s always gonna be a motivation for us. Kung masakit ‘yung isang bagay ayaw mo ulit mangyari eh. You’ll do your best not to have that feeling again. Ang importante right now is just to get to our one hundred percent before the season starts,” said Monteverde. 

Monteverde is now looking confidently at his promising rotation for Season 87 which is made up of new eligible bigs and reliable returnees in the likes of Gani Stevens, Denzil Walker, Josh Coronel and Miguel Yniguez with Noy Remogat yet to suit up in the season after the next. 

With UP losing Season 85 MVP Malick Diouf to graduation, the 52-year-old mentor also has his focus on a few names who will potentially replace the important role vacated by the Senegalese center: Stevens, Seven Gagate and Sean Alter. 

“They’re very committed to fill ‘yung role na ‘yun. Even sa mga FSA (foreign student-athlete) na dumarating sa amin. It’s a big role to fill but siyempre naniniwala naman tayo na through hard work mapupuno naman nila ‘yun,” he concluded.