Bo Perasol neither removed nor resigned, UP Maroons execs say

Bo Perasol remains as the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons coach, at least for now.

Amid reports about Perasol's status as coach of the team, UP men's basketball team manager Agaton Uvero told GMA News Online that the decorated mentor has not submitted a formal letter about his resignation.

Uvero clarified that as for now, Perasol, whose mother just passed away recently, remains at his post.

"That's not how the UP system works as there are formal processes required to make such a decision," said Uvero in a message.

"Status quo remains and coach Bo has not resigned and neither has been removed. UP has not even allowed varsity teams to meet and practice."

Perasol is the architect of UP's ascent in the past few years.

From coaching the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, Perasol moved to UP in 2016 to lead the way for the Maroons in Season 79.

And with Perasol at the helm, the Katipunan-based squad roared from being a cellar-dweller to a serious title contender and has helped in reviving the UP community.

He led the school to a finals appearance in Season 81, where they faced off against the eventual champion Blue Eagles, and a Final Four appearance in Season 82, where they fell prey to the UST Growling Tigers despite holding a twice-to-beat advantage.

Perasol also led an off-season recruiting haul for UP.

They got the services of standouts CJ Cansino, RC Calimag and former NU teammates Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano, and recently, Terrence Fortea.

UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Kiko Diaz also refuted the news surfacing that Perasol has ended his tenure as head coach.

“UP has formal processes in selecting varsity coaches.  Right now Coach Bo is still the UPMBT head coach and he has not resigned," he said.

"We are formally refuting news articles that came out with regards to Coach Bo’s coaching status in UP MBT. Lastly, the entire UP community (officials, varsity program, UP MBT and the alumni) is bereaving with Coach Bo on the recent passing of his mother due to Covid-19."

In a social media post, Renan Dalisay, founder of Nowhere to Go but UP, also addressed reports of Perasol's status.

"Sa mga balita na lumalabas about UP and Coach Bo, masasabi ko lang na lahat yan ay fake news," he said.

"Kasalukuyan nagluluksa si Coach Bo kasama ang buong Team sa pagpanaw ng kanyang ina kagabi."

—JMB, GMA News