By Adrian Stewart Co

UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball champions University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons is set to return to Iloilo for a series of exhibition matches next month.

According to Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go Villaruz, the Fighting Maroons will play two friendly games on July 30 and 31 at the venue that is still being finalized.

“UP Fighting Maroons will be playing two exhibition matches here but we are still finalizing who they will face and at what venues will it be held,” Villaruz told Watchmen Daily Journal.

“We will be announcing the final details, including the venue and the ticketing, on Gametime Sports Facebook matches in the coming days,” the Ilonggo sportsman added.

Expected to lead the way for the Fighting Maroons is Silay City, Negros Occidental-native Harold Alarcon as well as Iloilo City-native guard Gerry Austin Abadiano.

Alarcon was a former standout of Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, while Abadiano was a member of St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets.

“Harold is a remarkable figure here in Iloilo because he has played several good games here as a member of Bacolod Tay Tung during his high school days,” Villaruz said.

“On the part of Gerry, this will be great opportunity for the Ilonggos to see Gerry play again, this time as a member of the UP Fighting Maroons,” he added.

Other members of UP who could see action in the exhibition are Crispin John Cansino, Joel Cagulangan, Maodo Malick Diouf, RC Calimag, Carl Tamayo, James Spencer, Terrence Fortea, and Bismark Lina.

This will be the fourth time that the Fighting Maroons play exhibition in Iloilo following their stops in 2017, 2018 and 2019 under then Ilonggo Dolreich Perasol as head coach.

The Fighting Maroons were supposed to return to the city in 2020 for an exhibition game with Iloilo selection but was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic./ASC, WDJ