Newly-appointed University of the Philippines Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol is sticking to the same formula that brought success to the school’s men’s basketball team but on a much larger scale.
Perasol takes on the challenge of overseeing the sports programs and events the Fighting Maroons will compete in as the first-ever athletic director for all eight campuses in the UP system.
“I want the office to be ready to really cater to the needs of UP student-athletes,” the former men’s basketball program director said following his formal appointment last Wednesday.
“I have mixed emotions (about my appointment), mostly excited because now my task is not just to oversee the basketball program, but all of UP programs.”
The OASD office faces an enormous responsibility with thousands of student-athletes under its wings.
“There are over 700 student-athletes in Diliman alone. My intention is to get to know each of them so that we will know how to move forward not just for them but for the future student-athletes,” he said.
And the 52-year-old Perasol, who called the shots for the Fighting Maroons from 2016 to 2021, has the experience and perfect plan to make it work.
Under his watch as director, Perasol sowed a winning culture to the UP men’s basketball program. He also brought in blue-chipped recruits Carl Tamayo, Zavier Lucero, Malick Diouf, and JD Cagulangan.
Perasol’s work eventually bore fruit last year when the Fighting Maroons won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines crown for the first time since 1986.
UP on the same year, returned to UAAP Season 85 finals and finished runner-up.
“What I did there is to be part of the team. When I was a coach, I had to juggle a lot of things from game plans to allowances to sponsors, so when I was program director, I was there to link everything so the coaching staff can focus on the game,” he said.
“I’m hoping the same structure can be realized in the OASD: cooperation from alumni, participation of the community, support from school administration, and determination of coaches and players,” Perasol added.
“Those are the critical factors that we need to make this endeavor successful.”
To make UP student-athletes become the best versions of themselves, Perasol hopes to unify the alumni backing and then find ways to make sure the Fighting Maroons will be competitive on- and off-court.
“That’s my intention and the purpose of the office: to help the university and its student-athletes in whatever way we can. Whatever is needed, we’ll try to provide because unlike other schools, everything is free in UP so we don’t have the funds per se,” he said.
“Of course, we will always welcome the generosity of our alumni, but at the same time, we have to make sure that we can also get other means of support. We want this new office to be self-sustaining, in a way.”
Perasol will also take a seat on the UAAP’s Board of Managing Directors alongside Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan as school representative.
He is also tasked to lead the recruitment of both players and coaches, take time to connect with alumni to gather whatever support they can offer, and take care of student-athletes’ academics, health and nutrition, and overall future.
