UAAP champs Maroons to prioritize academics

MANILA, Philippines — UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player JD Cagulangan is expected to leave for Korea after the holidays, while newly minted UAAP champion University of the Philippines will stay in the Philippines instead to celebrate its feat and spend the much-needed break with their families. 

UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol said the Fighting Maroons will not have an overseas trip after Christmas and even New Year, contrary to expectations, following a sweet title redemption in the UAAP Season 87. 

This is due to the opening of classes in Diliman for the incoming second semester right away with the Fighting Maroons prioritizing their academic duties. 

“There's really no time for us to go on a trip as the second sem will start by middle of January,” Perasol told The STAR. 

UP, after back-to-back runner-up finishes, is coming off a triumphant revenge tour in the UAAP with s 66-62 Game 3 win in the finals to dethrone La Salle. 

It’s the second title for UP in the past four seasons in which it reached the finals every time for its fourth overall crown in history. 

And for the Fighting Maroons, it’s just the beignning of a bigger things to come with an expected local and international training camp in three locations by May for an early Season 88 preparations.

UP will defend its title next season without long-time floor general Cagulangan, who’s just finalizing his visa application before flying to South Korea. 

Cagulangan, after two championships with UP, a Mythical Team citation and Finals MVP as well as an NCAA juniors championship and Season MVP with St. Benilde, has decided to go pro abroad with the Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). 

The Butuan City pride will join back-to-back UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao of La Salle after his signing with the Goyang Sono Skygunners.