Without the reigning Rookie of the Year, a bigger burden will be placed on the shoulders of Achrissa Maw and Shanina Tapawan to hold down the fort for the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
If the University of the Philippines aims to end a four-decade title drought, the Fighting Maroons will have to do it without Favour Onoh.
Onoh, the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year, will miss the entire the Season 87 women's basketball tournament as she continues to recover from knee injuries.
The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development confirmed the developments on Tuesday, September 3.
Head coach Paul Ramos admitted that the decision was “agreed upon by the coaching staff, team management, doctors, and Favour herself,” adding that playing the Nigerian cager would not be worth the risk.
"'Di na talaga aabot. We believe this is the right thing to do," Ramos said in a statement.
"Ayaw naming ipilit na i-line-up siya. If she's not at full-strength, masasayang 'yung isang playing year niya. We didn't want to risk anything anymore."
Onoh is coming off an impressive season in which she helped the Fighting Maroons reach the Final Four after earning the no. 3 seed behind a 10-4 record.
That included a fiery 6-0 start and a monumental victory over former seven-time defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs.
UP stretched the eventual champions UST Golden Tigresses to the distance in their playoff showdown, forcing them to a do-or-die encounter before falling short in overtime.
In Onoh’s absence, Gilas Women’s Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco are back in the fold to continue UP’s breakthrough year last season with Kaye Pesquera and Christie Bariquit also in the mix.