The beat of the drums will be less, but they will not be silent.
After many years, the audience will listen to a toned-down drumbeating and a lower volume of sound coming from the brass bands in the coming 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which begins today with the men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Executive director Rebo Saguisag explained that the sounds from drums and instruments will be more in tune with the ebb and flow of the games.
The volume of sound heard from the gallery though, is not expected to lessen the excitement for the opening game between the University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons and the University of the East Warriors at 2 p.m.
The Fighting Maroons will find how good Nigerian powerhouse Bright Akhuetie will be when he finally suits up, along with talented acquisitions like NCAA Juniors MVP Will Gozum, former Adamson University slasher Jaydee Tungcab and versatile Filipino-Amerian forward David Murrell.
Their presence in the team is adding a lot of excitement to the Fighting Maroons’ campaign since they have been down in the standings for many years, but have managed to move to fifth last season.
“As far as the UP Maroons are concerned, we can always dream of competing with the stronger programs,” said Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol.
With Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry expected to drop by and watch, the veterans of the Fighting Maroons, Paul Desiderio, Javi Gomez de Liano, Juan Gomez de Liano, Jun Manzo and Gelo Vito, are anticipated to put a tough stand against the Warriors.
UE will have a new coach in Joe Silva, who has steered the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to two championships in the junior division.
His presence is expected to be a big help to the University of the East Red Warriors’ cause, as they try to have a better campaign after coming off a seventh-place finish last season (3-11 win-loss record).
The remnants of the team, which stayed on following the departure of coach Derrick Pumaren, will be made up of Wilson Bartolome, Mark Maloles, Philip Manalang, Alvin Pasaol, Jason Varilla.
With his core of veterans, Silva is keeping his fingers crossed that the winning habits he carried with him while handling the Blue Eaglets will rub off on his players.
Later, host National University clashes with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 4 p.m.
The following day, Far Eastern University meets La Salle at 12 noon, while defending champion Ateneo meets Adamson at 4 p.m.
