UP names Bo Perasol as athletics office director

Bo Perasol has been named the new director of the University of the Philippines' Office for Athletics and Sports Development (OASD), opening a new chapter in his journey with the Fighting Maroons.

With this new position, Perasol will have a seat on the UAAP Board of Managing Directors alongside UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan as school representatives.

"Actually, very mixed ang emotions ko dahil sa enormity ng trabaho. There are over 700 student-athletes sa Diliman pa lang and ang intensyon ko talaga is to get to know each of them para matutunan natin how to move forward 'di lang para sa kanila kundi para rin sa future student-athletes," he said following his appointment on Wednesday.

"Ang gusto nating mangyari is maging handa 'yung opisina to really cater to the needs of UP student-athletes. Mixed emotions, pero mostly excited din kasi ngayon, ang task ko is not just to oversee the basketball program, but all of UP programs."

(I have mixed emotions about this because of the enormity of the new job. In Diliman alone, there are over 700 student-athletes and I intend to get to know each of them so I would know how to move forward not only for them but for the future student-athletes. What we want is for the office to be ready to cater to the needs of UP student-athletes. I'm having mixed emotions, but mostly excited because my task now is not just to oversee the basketball program, but all of the UP programs.)

In his previous jobs at UP, Perasol sat as the Fighting Maroons' head coach from 2016 to 2021 before he left the post in July 2021 and eventually assumed the program director position.

With him as the program director, UP was able to quench a 36-year title drought when the Fighting Maroons dethroned their Katipunan neighbor Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 84 finals.

As a coach, meanwhile, he collected 28 wins and 28 losses to transform the school into a legitimate contender in the league.

"Ang ginawa ko lang naman do'n is to be part of the team. When I was a coach, ang dami kong jina-juggle kasi, from game plans to allowances to sponsors, so when I was program director, ako lang 'yung nando'n para maging link ng lahat so the coaching staff can focus on the game," he said.

"I'm hoping the same structure can be realized sa OASD: cooperation ng alumni, participation ng community, support ng school administration, and determination ng coaches and players. 'Yun 'yung nakita kong critical factors para maging successful 'yung endeavor."

(What I did was to be a part of the team. When I was a a coach, I'm juggling many items like game plans to allowances to sponsors, so when I was program director, I was there just to link everyone so the coaching staff can focus on the game.)

Now as athletic director, Perasol is tasked to oversee the recruitment of both players and coaches, as well as connecting to alumni to gather support from them. He will also supervise the student-athletes' academics performance, health and nutrition, and overall future.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News