Expect a fighting Maroons - Dandan

MANILA, Philippines - New University of the Philippines coach Ricky Dandan promised a squad that’s a lot more competitive than the Fighting Maroons crew that went home red-faced without a single win to show last year.

Dandan, a former Maroon himself in the 1980s, and his assistant coaches have started tinkering with the UP line-up in a serious effort to erase a harrowing 0-14 record in the UAAP the last time out.

“Tough job, I tell you, but as former Fighting Maroon myself, I will try my best that this season’s team will be there, fighting, no matter the odds are,” Dandan, who took the spot vacated by Boyet Fernandez, said during yesterday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan session.

The new-look Maroons will parade a slew of recruits led by 6’7 Nigerian Alinko Embah, 6-4 Raul Soyud from West Negros University, Jello Montecastro from St. Benilde, and Paolo Romero from UAAP three-peat juniors champion Ateneo.

Back in harness are holdovers like Mike Silungan, Alvin Padilla, Carlo Gomez, and Martin Pascual, all eager to bounce back from a winless campaign.

Dandan admitted the team won’t be a title-contender in Season 74 yet but expected to whip it into one in two or three more years.

“As of now, we will be eyeing for just a modest goal. This year, anyway is the start of a long process we envisioned that will be felt in, say 2012, 2013 and 2014,” said the UP mentor.