By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Main gunners Bright Akhuetie, Ricci Rivero, and Kobe Paras announced that they will return in UAAP Season 83 and will try to bounce back from a disappointing Season 82 after failing to get into the finals for the most anticipated finals bout between them and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Rumors spread fast that the trio will leave the Fighting Maroons for better opportunities in their basketball careers, but the trio announced that they will not leave the prized university and will try to give them a UAAP title.
Akhuetie expressed that after their loss in the hands of the young and surging UST Growling Tigers, Paras and Rivero approached him and asked if he is going to stay and give it another shot.
Without hesitation, the Nigerian center answered them with a yes, and that influenced the decision of both Paras and Rivero.
“After our last game, we talked about it and Kobe and Ricci said if I’m game for another season, they would be game, too,” Akhueti said.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again, every game felt like a home game because of the UP crowd. Didn’t matter where we played, they were there in full force and it was amazing,” Paras stated.
