FIGHTING MAROONS STAY FIGHTING AMIDST COVID-19

The whole world of sports has come to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT) stay fighting.

Every member of the team is optimistic that Filipinos and the Philippines will get through the difficult challenges they are facing and are staying positive in words and deeds.

Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol has reminded his players to put in the same heart and passion they show in the game into their response to the pandemic, encouraging them to practice teamwork and find ways to help those who are affected by the scourge of the coronavirus.

“During these trying times, our “never give up” attitude on court should be evident in how we battle this pandemic together as a team. We are optimistic that we can bounce back and come out stronger. While we face our own personal battles, let’s not forget our fellow Filipinos who are greatly affected by this virus. Let’s do our share, no matter how big or small,” said Perasol.

The ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) have prohibited sports-related mass gatherings like training, competitions and tournaments. Holed up in their respective homes, the Maroons still find ways to stay competitive and in shape, both physically and mentally.

UAAP Season 82 team captain Noah Webb says they “try our best to stay in shape by doing our workouts at home since we can't go to the gym. Our coaches are always guiding us and giving us programs to follow. It’s also very important for us to stay mentally tough since this is a different opponent we are facing.”

UP MBT team manager Atty. Agaton Uvero said it is also important for the team and the players to be resilient since a lot of things will change and new protocols will be implemented even after the ECQ is lifted.

“Our primary concern will always be the safety of each and every one. But we will stay committed to keeping the team intact so we can still give our best performance with or without games in the near future,” Atty. Uvero said.

He reiterated his gratitude to all the team’s fans, supporters, and sponsors who continue to support the Fighting Maroons and their various initiatives.

“We will always stay thankful to our fans who never tire of supporting us whether we are in active competition or not. And we will always be indebted to our partners and sponsors -- Robinsons Retail Group, STATS Performance Apparel, Palawan Express Pera Padala, and PayMaya -- for remaining committed to the team despite difficult times like these. Their support and their various efforts to provide assistance and relief to the frontliners and those most affected by the ECQ inspire us and buoy up our spirits,” Atty. Uvero added.

UPMBT players and alumni along with various UP teams and organizations sprang to action soon after the ECQ was declared. They initiated efforts to provide frontliners with necessary items like personal protective equipment (PPEs) and meals. They also reached out to affected communities with rice and other daily necessities.

Among those who raised funds and donated in kind are Fighting Maroons Paul Desiderio, Jett Manuel, Ricci Rivero, Diego Dario, Kyles Lao, Jarrell Lim, Ibrahim Ouattara, Jaybie Mantilla, and the Gomez de Liaño brothers, Joe, Javi, and Juan. NowheretogobutUP Foundation, the UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK), and the Salamat PH Healthcare Heroes also conducted fundraisers to help the frontliners, stranded UP students and staff, and various communities.

“There is so much uncertainty right now and these are extremely difficult times for many Filipinos. That’s why this is the time to be one with our people as we all go through these hardships together. Let’s all do our share in helping one another. Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. The goal of resilience is to thrive,” said NowheretogobutUP Foundation founding chairman Renan Dalisay.

Fighting Maroons Starts Preparations, Eyes Overseas Training and Tournaments

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons look to leverage on the remaining six months before the tip-off to Season 83 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with scorching off season action.

Fifth year head coach Bo Perasol acknowledged that the off season is key to having a good run in the regular season as players hone their skills and build the all-important chemistry and camaraderie.

“Off-season training is going to be the baseline of how you will do in the regular season. So, whatever it is that you do in the off-season is going to dictate what your season is going to be,” said Perasol, who led the Maroons to back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 81 and 82.

Thanks to staunch UPMBT supporter JJ Atencio of STATS Performance Apparel, the Diliman-based squad has benefited greatly from training camps they’ve attended in Las Vegas and Serbia. UP’s consistent attendance in the skills honing, character building sessions the past two years has helped whip them into competitive shape the past two seasons.

“Training plays a vital part in preparing the players for the season. I personally targeted to come in and sponsor training abroad to help mould the mentality of the group. This is not only for their physical development but also for their mental fortitude; and for them to realize that there is much more to achieve if they set their mind properly,” said JJ Atencio who is also CEO and Chairman of Januarius Holdings Inc.

“The countries we go to are usually places where basketball is big. The development there is way ahead of us, so that is where we benefit from new technologies, new advancements, new ideas, new ways to train,” Bo Perasol said. “Besides looking for training opportunities, we also look to compete in pocket tournaments here and abroad to give us different points of view, a different experience and different kinds of play”.

This time, the Maroons have their sights set on training in other countries. There’s training scheduled in Auckland, New Zealand for a start. But Coach Bo is open to other possibilities.

“The plans are already in place, but they all depend on how fast this (Covid19) virus thing is going to go away. We are going to train and play in Melbourne, Australia as well and we’re also supposed to go to Taiwan. But we’re still on the lookout for more training opportunities that will make us experience a highly competitive tournament before the UAAP starts,” Coach Bo said.

Being the only public school in the UAAP, Perasol admits that UP does not have a big budget to fund the team’s training camps abroad. “That’s why we’re really thankful that JJ Atencio, despite being an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, chose to help UP to the point of being known hereabouts as the “UPMBT’s Training Dude”. He has been supporting and sponsoring the various activities and training camps of the UP Fighting Maroons since UAAP Season 80,” Coach Bo revealed.

Atencio, for his part, looks forward to seeing a more mature and cohesive UPMBT on and off the court. “I expect a team that wouldn’t succumb to the pressure and the unnecessary noise from outsiders – especially those coming from social media.”

He has a wish for this team, Atencio said, “A championship, as the ultimate goal. And to get there, it wouldn’t hurt if they take it one game at a time.”

The UP Fighting Maroons plan to take part in the Fil-Oil Pre-Season Tournament in May and defend their title in the upcoming BLIA Cup in Taiwan this July.

Enjoy a Cashless Lifestyle Like the UP Men's Basketball Team with PayMaya

Going cashless makes everyday tasks easier - from purchasing airline tickets at home, getting awesome rebates while you shop, and even avoiding long lines when you pay your bills. You can transact business with just a tap, swipe, or scan these days, thanks to the first of its kind online payment app, PayMaya.

Members of the University of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) now enjoy the perks of a cashless lifestyle. They shop online, subscribe to on-demand services like Netflix or Spotify, book flights from anywhere, pay in movie theaters or restos in a secure, convenient way even without a credit card. Thanks to PayMaya, one of their team’s supporters, they now have a payment buddy that is easy to set up, with an application process that is non-tedious and completely hassle-free. It takes just a few seconds and a couple of taps on a smartphone to get a PayMaya account.

What’s more, there are countless deals and cashbacks to be enjoyed when one shops online or in stores, when bills are paid, or when money is sent to chosen recipients. PayMaya can also be used to shop at any Visa or Mastercard partner store worldwide, and funds can be withdrawn in whatever local currency wherever and whenever needed.

Adulting with PayMaya

UP Fighting Maroons forward David Murrell says his Pay Maya card makes it convenient for him to pay bills, even when he’s in class. He likes that all he has to do is tap “Pay Bills” on the app, select the biller, key in the amount and the billing number, then hit pay.

UP’s #3 James Spencer, who is also a Gilas Pilipinas U19 guard, says his PayMaya card is a great tool to manage expenses. “When you have cash on hand, it’s so easy to spend it and before you know it, it’s gone. The PayMaya app lets me see how much I still have on my account, how much money I’ve spent, and what I spent it on. It helps me be responsible when it comes to spending.”

To enjoy the same joys and conveniences of going cashless, all one needs to do is download the PayMaya app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

Visit https://www.paymaya.com/deals to find out how to get the best value for your money with every spend.

Robinsons Retail Group and Robina Farms continue to back the UP Fighting Maroons

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons will continue to get valuable support from their most loyal and staunchest supporters, the Robinsons Retail Group and Universal Robina Corporation’s Agro Industrial Group (URC-AIG), as they continue their build-up for the upcoming UAAP season and beyond. They officially renewed their partnership recently with Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe, and URC-AIG Group Business Unit General Manager Vincent Henry Go, and UP Fighting Maroons Team Manager Agaton Uvero and Head Coach Bo Perasol signing the Memorandum of Agreement at the UP Executive House in Diliman, Quezon City.

Robina Gokongwei-Pe, a UP alumna and avid backer of the Fighting Maroons involved Robinsons Supermarket and Handyman as Fighting Maroons supporters in 2010. Even as UP went winless and won only a total of three games in four seasons (2010-2013), Robina and her group stuck it out with the country’s premier state university in its quest back to relevancy in the field of sports.

More recently, Universal Robina Corporation’s Agro- Industrial Group, through its premium farm products unit Robina Farms, was added to the companies that threw its support behind the Fighting Maroons.

“We firmly believe that the UP Fighting Maroons shares the same values as us, such as passion for excellence and loyalty to our stakeholders. As we renew our official support for the men’s basketball team, we want them to continue to imbibe the same things that our company lives by as they seek to surpass last year’s achievement. This upcoming UAAP Season 82, it would be another great privilege to stand by this team together with the whole UP community. Hoping to exemplify ISKOs values of honor and excellence in every endeavor” said Vincent Henry Go of AIG’s Robina Farms.

“UP’s run last year is proof that everything is possible,” said Universal Robina Corporation – Agro Industrial Group’s Marketing Director Jonathan Diño. “Hopefully, this year’s team will build on what Batch 81 started and bring home the UAAP Championship for the first time since ’86. It’s UP’s time! They should take it. They deserve it.”

“We’re always grateful for all the support we have received from our alumni, especially from Ms. Gokongwei and her group of companies, who have been with us through our ups and downs. This team knows what it’s like to be at the bottom, to lack basic necessities like food and allowances. We are thankful for the faith and loyalty of the Robinsons Retail Group,” said UP head coach Bo Perasol.

Also present at the signing besides Robina Gokongwei-Pe and Vincent Henry Go were Willy Co (Handyman Vice Chairman), Jody Gadia (Robinsons Supermarket Managing Director), Stanley Co (Handyman Group General Manager), Katherine Yu (Daiso General Manager), Agnes Rafinan (TGP General Manager), Abet Liuson (TGP AVP – Supply Chain), Dr. Florante Palabrica (Robina Farms Farm Operations Director), and Jonathan Dino (Robina Farms Marketing Manager).

The Fighting Maroons fresh from their Championship run in Taiwan’s Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Cup coupled with offseason trainings in Las Vegas and Japan, look to give back to their supporters in Season 82.

PayMaya Supports the UP Men's Basketball Team for the UAAP’s 82nd Season

There is nowhere to go but up for PayMaya Philippines, the country’s leading digital payments company, as it officially backs the UP Men’s Basketball Team in the upcoming Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The UP Fighting Maroons have recently gained immense popularity due to their stellar performance in the last UAAP season. Iskos and iskas all over the country, along with many Filipino basketball fans, cheered for the team considered by many as perennial underdogs in the collegiate basketball tournament.

“As a home-grown digital brand that aims to change the game for the Filipino consumers and enterprises, the story of the UP Men’s Basketball team, along with their hard work, grit, and passion for excellence, resonates very well with all of us at PayMaya”said Orlando B. Vea, Founder-CEO of PayMaya Philippines.

The UP community, headed by the University President, Danilo Concepcion, also expressed his excitement about this partnership. “We’re thankful to PayMaya for the trust and the faith they have placed in our basketball team. Having the support of a young and innovative brand like PayMaya, will definitely give us the much-needed boost to step up our game. We couldn’t be more excited to go on this journey to the finals with them, and to deepen our collaboration with PayMaya in  the future,” Concepcion said.

"The UP Men's Basketball Team is extremely grateful for all the support that has come our way the past year, and we're more than glad to welcome PayMaya into the growing UP Fighting Maroons family. As we gear up for the upcoming season, we need all the support we can get and local brands such as PayMaya help us get to where we want to be," added UP Men's Basketball Team Head Coach Bo Perasol.

Supporting Passion 

This is not the first time PayMaya Philippines showed support to a promising sports team and endeavor. Just recently, the brand backed PayMaya Highflyers at the Premier Volleyball League, flying high with the team until the finals. Afterwards, the brand also threw in their support towards the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League which features teams representing their regions in a semi-professional tournament.

Now, as the UP Fighting Maroons prepare for the start of this year’s UAAP season, PayMaya extends its support to the league’s most-anticipated team by also providing the student-athletes a digital way to spend their allowances with their very own PayMaya account.

With PayMaya on hand, the players will be able to kickstart their cashless living, allowing them to use their money in the most secure and convenient way, so they can focus their energy on their daily training.

During the launch, the UPMBT players received their very own PayMaya cards which they linked to their PayMaya app so they can get the most out of their cashless experience. With PayMaya, they can easily shop online and in their favorite establishments, send and receive money to and from their loved ones, pay bills, buy discounted prepaid load and gaming pins, and many more.

Download the PayMaya app now and experience cashless living like no other. All you have to do is register an account, add money, and start paying for the things you love. To know more, visit www.paymaya.com.