With many players expected to contribute, the University of the Philippines' Fighting Maroons celebrate the return of coach Bo Perasol when they confront the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 4 p.m. today in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's basketball tournament.
Perasol, whose three-game suspension was reduced to two, will call the shots when the Fighting Maroons seek their seventh win in 10 games at the Araneta Coliseum.
There were five players, led by Bright Akhuetie, who contributed in double digits last Saturday when the Maroons won over the University of the East Warriors, 78-75.
“Coach Bo has been with us all week in practice. He’s been doing a good job of really putting this team, helping this team come together despite the losses to Ateneo and to FEU,” said assistant coach Ricky Dandan.
The Growling Tigers are coming off a 58-72 loss to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
The lifting of Perasol's sanction comes after a meeting between Perasol and Ilagan last Saturday, when the UP coach expressed his sincerest apologies to the league and to referee Jaime Rivano.
It was during UP's game against Ateneo back in September 29 when Perasol was slapped with two technical fouls with 6:23 left in the third quarter of the contest for questioning a non-call and confronting Rivano afterwards.
Earlier, the top seeded Ateneo Blue Eagles will go for their 11th straight victory in their 12:30 match against the Tamaraws.
The La Salle Green Archers and the Warriors clash at 10:30 a.m.