UP lauds Tamayo, Gomez de Liaño

Carl Tamayo wasn’t the only one happy when he lifted his first Korean Basketball League (KBL) title with the Changwon LG Sakers last Saturday.

In Manila, the dribbler’s alma mater, the University of the Philippines (UP), also congratulated the player for his role in the championship.

UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol told DAILY TRIBUNE that was a victory for the Fighting Maroons’ basketball program as former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player Juan Gomez de Liaño was also in the finals with the losing Seoul SK Knights.

The 24-year-old UAAP champion bested Gomez de Liaño in their best-of-seven finals series.

“The presence of both Juan and Carl in the KBL’s championship series is just a testament to the UP Basketball program’s identification and development of talents,” Perasol said.

“We are proud of what both of them have achieved.”

More Maroons are now making a name for themselves not only locally but overseas.

For one, CJ Cansino now plays for the Meralco Bolts while Zav Lucero is displaying his wares with the Magnolia Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Meanwhile, big man Malick Diouf is now playing in the Indonesian Basketball League with Pacific Caesar Surabaya.

Francis Lopez is also set to play in the Japan B.League with the Fighting Eagles Nagoya.

Perasol hopes the success of the alumni would inspire the current crop of Maroons as they gun for back-to-back UAAP titles in Season 87.

“The achievements of those who have come before them will serve as an inspiration for them to work doubly hard to be in a position to succeed in the future,” Perasol said.