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.