UP denies Bo Perasol leaving Fighting Maroons

Bo Perasol will still be UP's head coach. Nikki Collantes (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Bo Perasol is still University of the Philippines' men's basketball coach, at least for now.

No less than the main man of the Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation and the dean of the UP College of Human Kinetics denied reports saying that Perasol is no longer the Fighting Maroons' head coach for the upcoming UAAP season.

"Sa mga balita na lumalabas about UP and Coach Bo, masasabi ko lang na lahat yan ay fake news," Renan Dalisay, the NTGBUP's founder said in a Facebook post.

Francis Diaz, UP CHK's dean, backed up Dalisay's statement, saying, "Right now Coach Bo is still the UP MBT head coach and he has not resigned. We are formally refuting news articles that came out with regards to Coach Bo’s coaching status in UP MBT."

Dalisay also said that the current COVID-19 situation makes it difficult to think about a coaching change.

"It's still status quo today and UP has not even allowed varsity teams to meet and practice," he said.

On the other hand, both Dalisay and Diaz said that a certain coaching shakeup has to undergo "formal processes."

Dalisay even hit out at the initial news updates saying, "That’s not how the UP system works.... Hindi sa pag leak ng istorya galing sa unnamed source."

He also believes, "Obviously, mukhang hindi taga UP naglalabas nyan."

Interestingly enough, the rumors surfaced amid Perasol's period of grieving as his mother Beth passed away due to COVID-19.

"The entire UP community (officials, varsity program, UP MBT, and the alumni) is bereaving with Coach Bo on the recent passing of his mother due to COVID-19."

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