'HELL WEEK' is on in the University of the Philippines, with finals for majority of classes slated for this week and next.
That is the first and foremost reason the Fighting Maroons stated as to why they had to pull out of the 2024 Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup.
"The Fighting Maroons, as student-athletes, must prioritize their academic commitments and responsibilities," the team said in a statement posted on their social media accounts last Tuesday.
Down goes UP
State U, the top seed in half of the Pinoyliga quarterfinals bracket, was supposed to face Enderun in its home gym last Wednesday in Taguig. After it forfeited its remaining games, however, the preseason tournament had to adjust.
And after the Pinoyliga semifinals on Saturday, it will be La Salle facing off against National U for the championship.
Interestingly, the round of eight in the Filoil EcoOil 17th Preseason Tournament was also on Saturday, with both La Salle and UP suiting up and seeing action.
So why couldn't the Fighting Maroons do what the Green Archers did?
Scheduling quirks
The reason is actually simple: UP's scheduled games in Pinoyliga were at odds with many players' class schedules - and therefore, finals schedules.
While the Filoil Preseason put games featuring the Fighting Maroons later in the day, Pinoyliga's matches were held from morning to early afternoon. Along with that, the Pinoyliga playoffs were going to be played on Wednesday and Thursday, while the Filoil Preseason quarterfinals and semifinals were pegged for the weekend when there were no classes.
"It's UP. Exam week is something to take seriously. From a scheduling standpoint, Wednesday and Thursday yung start ng exam week e, so it didn't make sense. Nagkataon lang din na si Filoil ang Sabado, Linggo, and walang exam this weekend," said assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
And with submission of grades in the Diliman campus set for June 24, the Fighting Maroons couldn't afford to miss their last classes and finals.
"Of course, in UP, we always forward honor and excellence, and now, service as well. So it's unfortunate na 'di natin natapos yung nasimulan natin sa isang liga, but again, it just so happened na merong kinailangan ayusin sa mga klase nila ang mga players natin," said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development Dir. Bo Perasol, whose office now also oversees student-athletes' academics.
Staying spotless
Despite the 'hell week,' UP still found a way through NCAA Season 99 MVP Clint Escamis and finalist Mapua for an easy, breezy 94-75 win on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Fighting Maroons essentially put the game away in the second quarter where they outscored their foes, 26-15, and then ballooned their advantage to as big as 26, 61-35, early in the third period.
Francis Lopez topped the scoring column with 16 points on top of nine rebounds and three assists, while Nigerian big Dikachi Udodo posted his own 15 markers and five boards.
After sweeping the elimination round and cruising through the quarterfinals, State U now stakes its spotless slate and title defense against a resurgent FEU side in the semis.
"I'm just hoping na since nandito na si coach Sean [Chambers], hindi siya maglalaro. Ang hirap bantayan nyan, best import ever yan," said Luanzon, referring to the multi-time champion reinforcement with Alaska who's now the Tamaraws' shot-caller.
"Kidding aside, FEU, yung win nila earlier just goes to show na yung team nila fights until the end."
Indeed, FEU was behind for majority of the match against Benilde until Jorick Bautista's three in the dying moments shot them into the Final Four.
They hope to charge through a UP side looking to claim back-to-back championships in the Filoil Preseason ahead of their training camp in Serbia.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
