UP Cebu set to compete in UAAP juniors bootfest

Sports

THERE will be a new kid on the block in one of the country’s top football tournaments, and they intend to make a serious run.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu will be seeing action as a guest team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 high school football tournament, making them the first school outside the National Capital Region and the first from Cebu to participate in the competition.

The school’s historic UAAP participation was formally announced in a press conference at the UP Cebu campus on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Atty. Leo Malagar, UP Cebu Chancellor,said the school’s participation in the UAAP reflects the university’s commitment to providing student-athletes with opportunities to develop their athletic abilities while pursuing their education.

Malagar said competing in the UAAP is a rare opportunity the university takes pride in.

“The UAAP has been a Manila stage. Its member schools are in Metro Manila. Its games are played there. So for a young athlete from the provinces, reaching that stage usually meant moving to Manila for good. Many gifted players never made that move not because they lacked ability, but because the distance was too great and the cost too high. Now, they can play as Cebuanos,” said Malagar.

Head coach Ricor Marfil sees UP Cebu as an underdog being a newcomer but he assures the Fighting Maroons will not be pushovers.

“All of them are rookies. We will be the underdogs but it doesn’t mean we will just not gonna leave like that. We want to make an impact, We will show to everyone our skills,” said Marfil, who will be assisted by Phoebe Ann Hao and Amber Villaflor.

Marfil expressed confidence that the Fighting Maroons can contend.

But more than just chasing the title, UP Cebu is determined to give its all, Marfil said.

“If we are going to make the finals, the semis, it is just going to be a bonus. Our ultimate goal is to showcase the potential and skills of these players,” Marfil said.

Leading the 23-man squad is team captain Cyan Manuel Villaflor. Completing the team are Gamaliel Veloso, Jared Tyler Abastas, Wayne Jahman Adlawan, Caleb Dion Aguilar, Jian Paulo Amaga, Clark Jareed Bansag, Jake Louise Bordalba, Ceaje Bungcaras, Fritz Gerald Cabrera, Gabriel Nathan Catostos, Marvin Roy Cervantes, Val Andri Goles, John Martin Jaluage, Jude Earl Jurado, SG Laspoña, Marc Leonel Mongaya, Rodney Jr. Orteza, Steve Andrie Redondo, Vince Christopher Rodil, Qyel Ino Sollano, Syd Ferdinand Sungcad, and Charles Shenrick Tangcay.

“We hope to make the city proud. We will try our best to bring pride to the city, to the region, and to the university,” Villafor said.

The Fighting Maroons will start their campaign against the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs on Jan. 13, at the UP Diliman Football Field in Quezon City.

The team will be staying in UP Diliman while the three-month competition is ongoing.

UP Cebu High School Principal and Assistant Professor Kim Bondoc said flexible academic arrangements have already been set up to avoid disrupting the studies of the players.

“In UP High, we really mean the academics. So even if these students are VAAS (Varsity Athletics Admission System), they are very busy with sports training but they are still busy with their academics also,” Bondoc said.

Flexible learning arraignments include asynchronous and synchronous classes, said Bondoc.

A teacher coordinator will also be assigned to coordinate with the coaches and students to check on the progress of the school work assigned to the athletes

“Not all days they will have games . So there will be days that they will be regular students,” Bondoc said.(CCM)