ILOILO City – UAAP men’s seniors basketball team University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons is set to return here for a two-day goodwill basketball matches on Feb. 21 and 23.
Ilonggo sportsman Rodolfo Go Villaruz told Panay News the Fighting Maroons will play two exhibition matches against a still to be determined team as part of their buildup for the UAAP men’s basketball season later this year.
“This is an early treat for Ilonggo basketball fans this year because UP has a lot of supporters here,” Villaruz said. “We are still negotiating with their possible opponents but rest assured that the two goodwill games will be exciting.”
The Fighting Maroons were coming off a third place finish in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball season where they were defeated twice by the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the step-ladder semifinals.
Still with the Fighting Maroons in the goodwill matches are Ricci Rivero, Kobe Paras, Bright Akhuetie, Juan Gomez de Liano, Javi Gomez de Liano, Will Gozum, and David Murrell.
Last year, the Fighting Maroons also played two exhibition matches in Iloilo City against the Iloilo PRISAA selection team at the University of San Agustin Gym and City of Passi Arena. Both games were won handily by UP.
This will be the fourth time that the Dolreich Perasol-mentored Fighting Maroons plays in Western Visayas after participating in a pocket tournament in Passi City on July 2018 and playing in Pototan three years ago./PN
