Former Blue Eagles coach Bo Perasol. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
New UP coach Bo Perasol knows that bringing the Fighting Maroons back to Final Four contention would be no easy feat.
That’s why he’s willing to be patient as he takes on the challenge of leading his alma mater back to a contention.
“The immediate goal is to improve from last season’s performance. Hopefully, we can have a fighting chance for the Final Four this year,” Perasol said, after he was formally introduced as the new head coach on Monday.
The former PBA coach will be the seventh mentor in charge for UP in the last decade, taking charge of a basketball program that has only won seven games in the last five years and has last seen the semifinals way back in 1997.
Perasol is coming to Diliman with a gaudy resume despite a crown-less outing with Ateneo in the past three seasons, where he amassed a 27-18 record with the Blue Eagles.
The soft-spoken mentor said that all of his experience with the Blue Eagles would truly be beneficial for him as he tries to change the course for UP.
“I’ve learned a lot from my stint with Ateneo. If there is one thing I will bring to UP, it’s my coaching experience with them,” he said.
Perasol took over the Fighting Maroons’ practice on Monday and already noted down points of improvement for his new crew.
“We definitely need a big man,” he said, as he is left with Andrew Harris, Jerson Prado, and Gelo Vito in his front court.
Perasol will rely on the leadership of guards Paul Desiderio, Jett Manuel, Kyles Lao, and Diego Dario this season.
He will coach UP for the first time on Wednesday against Perpetual at the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.