Baptism of fire for Maroons
University of the Philippines’ retooled roster gets an acid test right in its first game in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup when the Maroons battle San Beda in the main game in the inaugurals Sunday.
Tip off is at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan with the Maroons to unveil prized acquisitions Ricci Rivero and the exciting Kobe Paras against the Red Lions, the reigning three-time NCAA champions.
“We’re still working on our chemistry,” UP assistant coach Ricky Dandan said. “San Beda will be a big test for us.”
The Maroons finished a fighting second to Ateneo in the UAAP last season, defying all pretournament predictions by ousting Adamson in the Final Four.
Rivero and Paras will join a solid core that already has Bright Akhuetie and Juan Gomez de Liaño and their coming to UP will be more than enough to plug the hole created by the departure of Paul Desiderio, who is now in the PBA.
