The University of the Philippines still has some fight left in them this late in the season, a welcome change from the previous years.
Although they are guaranteed to have another losing season at 4-8, the Fighting Maroons still remain within a feasible distance from the fourth and final postseason slot currently held by Adamson at 5-5.
Being in the race for the postseason has surprised the Diliman-based squad, with team captain Jett Manuel noting that "This is the first time in my career that, at this point in the season, I'm still vying for the Final Four."
Manuel, who is playing in his final season, contributed 19 points, five rebounds, 2 assists, and two steals in defeating National University, 71-66, on Wednesday. He made all six of his foul shots in the final minutes to preserve the win against their fellow postseason aspirants.
His efforts against the Bulldogs garnered him the ACCEL Quantum / 3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week nod for October 24-30, beating out his teammate Javi Gomez de Liano and La Salle's Ben Mbala for the honor. Manuel is the first UP player to be named as the POTW since the award was revived in 2005.
Even with the Maroons securing their first 4-win season in a decade, Manuel says, "We're grateful right now for the (fourth) win, but me, medyo selfish, I want to win more. You know, these opportunities don't come often, especially for UP. So I always tell the team coming into games na I want us to win so bad."
UP head coach Bo Perasol echoed those sentiments. "Ga-graduate na rin si Jett. At least, alam niyang hanggang sa huling pagkakataon, meron kaming chance. I think we are going to fight for that chance. I think we are going to embrace that opportunity."
Although they are guaranteed to have another losing season at 4-8, the Fighting Maroons still remain within a feasible distance from the fourth and final postseason slot currently held by Adamson at 5-5.
Being in the race for the postseason has surprised the Diliman-based squad, with team captain Jett Manuel noting that "This is the first time in my career that, at this point in the season, I'm still vying for the Final Four."
Manuel, who is playing in his final season, contributed 19 points, five rebounds, 2 assists, and two steals in defeating National University, 71-66, on Wednesday. He made all six of his foul shots in the final minutes to preserve the win against their fellow postseason aspirants.
His efforts against the Bulldogs garnered him the ACCEL Quantum / 3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week nod for October 24-30, beating out his teammate Javi Gomez de Liano and La Salle's Ben Mbala for the honor. Manuel is the first UP player to be named as the POTW since the award was revived in 2005.
Even with the Maroons securing their first 4-win season in a decade, Manuel says, "We're grateful right now for the (fourth) win, but me, medyo selfish, I want to win more. You know, these opportunities don't come often, especially for UP. So I always tell the team coming into games na I want us to win so bad."
UP head coach Bo Perasol echoed those sentiments. "Ga-graduate na rin si Jett. At least, alam niyang hanggang sa huling pagkakataon, meron kaming chance. I think we are going to fight for that chance. I think we are going to embrace that opportunity."
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