Bo Perasol: ‘This is my final year’

Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Under fire for Ateneo’s current slide, Bo Perasol revealed that the ongoing UAAP Season 78 will be his final year as the Blue Eagles’ head coach.

“This is my final year. I already told them that this is going to be my last year, regardless [of what happens],” said Perasol after the Eagles’ 66-61 defeat to the league-leading Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Sunday.

READ: FEU clips Ateneo, wins 6th straight

“My team knows that, my players know that, so this is our last hurrah together, with Kiefer (Ravena) and Von (Pessumal),” he added. “We talked about it and I don’t think that’s going to be something that needs to be talked about. We all understand that already.”

READ: Ateneo coach ‘under fire’ after La Salle win

Perasol is currently in the final year of his contract. Ateneo missed the Final Four in his first year before getting the boot in the semifinals last season despite being the top seed.

Ateneo, which is currently in fourth place with 4-4 record, is in the midst of a three-game skid.

“Sa pinangalingan ko sa PBA, ganon naman lagi (From my days in the PBA, it’s always been that way),” he said.

“I always serve the best interest of the management and of the school. Knowing Ateneo, Ateneo hates to lose. I’m in the middle of that. It’s natural that I get the blame because I’m the leader and they can’t pinpoint anybody,” Perasol continued. “That’s going to happen whoever leads this team. I really don’t take that personally.”

Perasol is taking the criticisms in stride as he focuses on the task at hand of steering the Eagles to a championship.

“I don’t talk about the offers I had from the outside because I have an obligation here,” he said. “The mere fact that the management fought for me to continue this, I’m really bent on doing something on this team and I’m really sure we still have the time to do that.”