Latest UP recruit Miguel Palanca will be immediately available for the defending champion Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 88.
The UP Fighting Maroons get a boost in the height department after securing the commitment of 6-foot-7 Miguel Palanca from NU-Nazareth School, who will immediately be available for the team in UAAP Season 88.
Palanca, who initially committed to NU, decided to hear out offers from both UAAP and NCAA schools before ultimately deciding on State U.
Following the exits of Quentin Millora-Brown, Aldous Torculas, and Francis Lopez from the Season 87 championship team, the addition of Palanca gives UP’s roster much needed height in their impending title defense.
Palanca averaged 9.1 points on an efficient 57 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in UAAP Season 87.
For UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, the Fighting Maroons were hard-pressed to gain new recruits up front, considering that the defending champions will be missing some significant height.
With the addition of Palanca, Monteverde believes that he’ll be a great asset to the team — as long as he also commits himself to continue growing.
“Kinailangan natin to add size, and we saw naman talaga yung potential ni Palanca. Magiging malaking tulong siya sa atin hindi lang for next season, but for five full years,” Monteverde said.
“Pero siyempre, bata pa yan. Nire-remind lang din natin na stay focused and whatever challenges that we will be facing, laban lang,” he added.
The sought after prospect was courted by multiple teams even as he had first committed to National U, before ultimately deciding on the Fighting Maroons as his destination.
Palanca is among big prospects secured by UP during the offseason, along with UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre who will be available for the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 89.