Monteverde took over the UP men’s basketball program in August after Bo Perasol resigned after leading the Fighting Maroons to consecutive UAAP Final 4 appearances in Season 81 and 82.

And since then, players are departing and going into the lair of the Diliman-based squad.

With this, the decorated mentor believes that his first task is to build that chemistry again and improve the team to repeat their historic feat in Season 81 and 82.

“Right now ‘pag tinitingnan ko ‘yung picture right now ng mga players na nasa lineup, kasi most of them naman, naging kalaban ko na rin noong high school,” he noted in an interview with former PBA commissioner Noli Eala on “Power and Play.”

“Pero hindi mo pwede i-envision siya in a way na nakita ko sila before, kasi dalawang taon din ang dumaan eh,” he added.

However, Monteverde is still positive about gaining a golden team again and will push forward for improvement even with a few months to prepare for Season 84.

“Pero tayo naman, kung ano ang sitwasyon naman at hand, we just have to do what we have to do para ma-prepare ‘yung team. So sa akin, kung two months ang ibibigay or three months, we just have to work within that time frame.”