Winless UP Maroons plan bonfire if they beat Falcons
The manager of the UP Fighting Maroons hoops team is Dan Palami, who also runs the Philippine Azkals. In Thursday's incendiary press conference about the recent issues with his football team, Palami took time off to chat a bit about the UP basketball club.
Palami showed his footballing pedigree when he talked about the Maroons, bemoaning the collapse of the team against UST and referring to a Tigers hot streak as a “20-nil run.” But then he also displayed a knowledge of basketball culture when talking about Saturday's clash with 0-5 Adamson.
“We'll propose to have a bonfire if we win” said the UP chief.
Forgive the over-exuberance. UP is in even worse shape than the boys from San Marcelino, sporting an 0-6 mark (Adamson has played a game less because of a typhoon cancellation.) Plus, State U hasn't won a UAAP match since the first term of Barack Obama (August 19, 2012, when they toppled UE 63-48.) That's a run of futility now 27 games long. A victory to avoid the proverbial Wooden Spoon could feel like a Superbowl triumph.
The Maroons must be smelling blood since Adamson were recently dealt a record hiding by National University.
But plans for wood-burning at Sunken Garden might have to be put on hold, since bonfires have reportedly been long outlawed in the Diliman campus. But Palami insists he will do his best to make it happen if his charges get the “W.”
That isn't a sure thing, though. It is not clear whether coach Rey Madrid will be allow to prowl the sidelines due to his suspension for implying that a referee was manipulating the spread in a game. As of the moment the league commissioner is still deciding on the matter. But as this piece opines, with or without a coach, UP is behind the pace of the rest of the league.
At any rate, ADU-UP, which tips off at 2 pm on Saturday, is a definite must-see, with or without a fiery celebration after.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
