Palami tries to bring Azkals magic to UP Fighting Maroons

MANILA, Philippines -- The man responsible for turning the fortunes around of the once-moribund football national team is taking his golden touch to UAAP 's perennial cellar-dweller UP Fighting Maroons.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami accepted the task of managing the UAAP's favorite whipping boys on Monday night.

"I didn't think twice when the school that molded me into who I am now needs my services," Palami told Philstar.com on Tuesday.

Palami, 43, was an incoming freshman at UP Visayas when the Maroons tasted their last championship in 1986. He is hoping to unite the UP community to rally behind the long-suffering Maroons.

Palami finished with a degree of Business Administration and Accountancy at UP Visayas before he took law studies at UP Diliman in 1993.

He met the team on Monday night after accepting his appointment and assured his full support and will lead in raising funds for the team.

"We need to prepare them psychologically, mentally and spiritually. They may be long suffering but their spirits are not broken," added Palami.

He also talked to some student volunteers to help the players academically for tutorial sessions.

"I am calling on the other UP alumni who would like to extend support to the team to please come forward," Palami said.

The Maroons finished with 0-14 record in the last UAAP basketball tournament, the third time they failed to register a single win in a season since 2007.

Palami is widely credited for injecting life to the once suffering national football program by looking for corporate and private sponsors that led to recruitment of Filipino talents around the world and top-notch coaches.