Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
All eyes will be on NCAA Season 93 Juniors Most Valuable Player Will Gozum, who has committed to return to University of the Philippines, but coach Bo Perasol doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the new recruit.
“I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on him,” the approachable mentor said on Friday. “For as long as he does what’s expected of him, which is to get the rebounds and play defense, that’s fine by me.”
Pressure is inevitable, though, as Gozum’s arrival adds more excitment for the title-thirsty UP, which has also tapped Nigerian big man Bright Akhuetie to join holdovers Paul Desiderio, Jun Manzo, Javi Gomez de Liaño and Season 80 Rookie of the Year Juan Gomez de Liaño.
READ: NCAA jrs MVP Will Gozum commits to UP
Perasol, however, will be treating the former Mapua Red Robin with kid gloves in the hopes of helping the 6-foot-6 big man reach his peak and match the hype.
“If he lives up to his potential, he will be a great asset to the program,” he said.
Peraso, though, knows the the arrival of blue chip recruits adds puts more pressure on the Fighting Maroons to make it to the Final Four for the first time since 1997, but the incoming third year mentor welcomed that challenge.
“The natural progression of our performance should be to make it to the Final Four this season,” he said. “A better team will give us better chances to make it. Pressure is good and we embrace it.”