In an effort to ensure the sustainability of the UP Diliman Basketball program and to elevate the juniors’ program to become more competitive, Coach Bo Perasol, the UP Diliman’s Program Director for Basketball, has endorsed the integration of the UP Diliman Basketball program from high school to college and the appointment of Goldwin Monteverde as concurrent coach of both the seniors and juniors’ program.
Monteverde’s Track Record
Monteverde, a seasoned and well-respected basketball coach, has an impressive track record. He steered the Fighting Maroons to their first UAAP seniors’ basketball title in 36 years in his first year as head coach and led them to a second straight finals appearance in the following season. Prior to this, Monteverde was a champion high school basketball coach who led the NU Bullpups to back-to-back UAAP crowns and numerous championships in the NBTC National Finals, PSSBC, MMBL, and Palarong Pambansa. Monteverde has also led NS-NU to gold in 2018 and 2019 ASEAN School Games.
Monteverde is well-known for producing blue-chip recruits like Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Harold Alarcon, and Terrence Fortea, among others.
Integrated and Well-coordinated Basketball Program
“To ensure the sustainability of the program, especially now that UP’s aspirations are high, is to have an integrated and well-coordinated basketball program from high school to college,” said Perasol in his letter to UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez. The integration of the UP Diliman Basketball program from high school to college aims to recruit players from around the country who will excel not only in basketball but also in academics, and who can survive the rigors of UPIS academic demand. With proper training programs and exposure, these young players will ensure that the program in the UPMBT continues.
Ample Support
Perasol also assured the newly installed UP President that the UP MBT Management Team will guarantee ample support to its high school squad to make it successful like its seniors’ counterpart. The support will include recruitment and screening, academic support and tutorials, strength and conditioning, skills training, team building, basketball data analytics, and improvement of training facilities, among others.
Juniors’ Program
Perasol hopes to replicate the success of the seniors’ program and elevate the juniors’ program to become more competitive, with the aim of getting back into the final four and aiming for championship titles. The current Juniors’ coach, Paolo Mendoza, also supports the integration and direction of UP’s basketball program in Diliman.
Impact on Other Sports Programs
Coach Bo further emphasized that the success of the juniors’ basketball program will bring more attention and support to other UPIS sports programs like volleyball, swimming, and athletics, among others, and expand assistance from the broader UP alumni community.
Once UP Administration gives its go-signal for the integration of UP Diliman’s basketball program, Perasol believes it would serve as a big boost for the continued success of the UP Men’s Basketball Team and for the UPIS Juniors Fighting Maroons. The integration of the UP Diliman Basketball program from high school to college will create a more unified program that can nurture the talents of young athletes and prepare them to excel not just in basketball, but in academics and life beyond the court.
