Okumu vows UP will be in Final Four in Season 81

University of the Philippines was two spots away from cracking the UAAP Season 80 Final Four and that didn’t stop head coach Godfrey Okumu from making the boldest prediction for Season 81.

Okumu  vowed that the Lady Maroons will make the Final Four next year.

“In every tournament, I think everyone wants to win and next season you’d be interviewing me for the playoffs not here,” Okumu told reporters after their final game of the eliminations Saturday at Blue Eagle Gym.

The Lady Maroons ended their Season 80 campaign with a convincing four-set win over University of the East, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23, to finish with a 6-8 record.

Although UP failed to enter the semifinals, Okumu’s team for Season 81 will still have an intact core that features Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, and Ayel Estrañero.

And if the Lady Maroons relied on the results of the other teams, University of Santo Tomas, National University and Adamson University, to see if they could qualify for the Final Four, Okumu said UP will have control of its own fate in Season 81.

UP was locked in a precarious spot midway through the second round wherein just one or two games separated the Lady Maroons, Golden Tigresses, Lady Bulldogs, and Lady Falcons.

“This year we were waiting for NU to lose so that we can get a chance, but next year we’re not going to wait for anyone to lose,” said Okumu. “We’ll just win and get there (Final Four).”