“UP Has Nowhere to Go but UP”: Josh Meriño Sets Higher Standard for Season 89

UP enters UAAP Season 89 as defending champion, but Josh Meriño is making sure nobody in the squad gets too comfortable with what happened last season.

For the Fighting Maroons centerback, the title is already in the past. A new season means a clean slate, with every team starting from zero and every opponent looking to take down the champions.

“Season 89 is a brand new season for us and for everybody,” Meriño said. “Yes, we are the defending champions but that was last season. This year is a brand new season.”

UP Has Nowhere to Go but UP

That mentality has carried into UP’s preparations. The Maroons know they will have a bigger target on their backs, but also see it as a chance to push themselves further.

“We know all the teams are going for us, we know that they want to beat us. We want to prove ourselves even more and set higher standards than before. UP has nowhere to go but UP.”

The Maroons also took their preparations overseas, spending time in Thailand for a training camp that helped the team integrate new players and build chemistry ahead of the season.

“It was a successful camp for us,” Meriño said. “Hitting our objectives on what we wanted to work on and obviously got to know the new players and coaching staff to strengthen the bond.”

Meriño kept the tactical details close to his chest, but admitted there is still plenty for the team to work on before UAAP football begins.

“I wouldn’t say that we got everything figured out; it’s still in the works,” he said. “We aren’t a perfect team.”

Trusting the Process

The upcoming Tuloy Cup will give UP another chance to test themselves before the season gets underway. For Meriño, the key is trusting the process.

“UAAP is right around the corner and we know that we don’t need to figure everything out all at once,” he said. “It’s a process and we stay patient and keep our feet on the ground and just keep working to get better.”

For Meriño, Season 89 is also a chance to have a bigger impact after an injury-hit campaign last year. He missed the entire first round and several games in the second, eventually returning in time to help UP lift the championship.

Still, he wasn’t satisfied with his own performances.

“I wasn’t happy with my overall performance,” he said.

Healthy, Stronger, and Confident

Meriño has spent the offseason putting the work in and taking better care of his body. Now, he feels ready to show what he can do when fully fit.

“I feel healthier, stronger, and confident in myself,” he said.

More than anything, he wants to stay on the pitch and show what he can bring to the team.

“I just want to stay healthy because I know what I can bring to the table when I am healthy and my teammates know it as well,” he said.

Meriño has also gone back through the footage from last season, using it as motivation heading into the new campaign. He knows he can do more, but isn’t interested in putting unnecessary pressure on himself.

“I hold myself to a higher standard and I know within myself that I can do a lot better this upcoming season,” he said. “No pressure, just enjoy and do everything with passion.”

The championship may be in the books, but Meriño knows the work doesn’t stop there.

“Football doesn’t stop when you win a championship; it’s just getting started,” he said.