The dawn has finally broken for the UE Lady Red Warriors, who have shattered their 40-game losing skid spanning five years with an emotional victory over the DLSU Lady Archers in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament.
After enduring five long years and a grueling 40 games, the sun has risen in the East as the UE Lady Red Warriors celebrate a hard-earned victory in the UAAP.
With unwavering determination from start to finish, the Lady Red Warriors broke a 40-game losing skid with a remarkable 18-point win over the DLSU Lady Archers, 65-47, in Round 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament Sunday, September 23.
“Yon ang masarap kasi rookie team ito, talagang bago kasi lahat ng players ko, so ‘yun lang naman goal namin, ‘yung kultura ng UE maibalik namin. Since day one na nag-coach ako dito, 2013, parang ‘yun yung nawala eh,” said veteran Lady Warriors head coach Ai Lebornio.
The last time the Lady Warriors tasted victory was on September 21, 2019, when they pulled off a heart-stopping 68-66 win against the University of the Philippines in UAAP Season 82.
Paving the way for UE were the dynamic trio of Jearzy Ganade, Moana Vacalares, and Aliyah Ronquillo, all of whom were overwhelmed with emotion after this long-awaited victory.
“Sobrang happy. No’ng nagfi-final buzzer na, hindi pa nagsi-sink in sa amin na nakakuha na kami ng panalo,” said Ganade.
“Lahat ng pagod ng lahat [ng nasa team], maski ‘yong hindi napapasok, grabe. Grabe ‘yong trinabaho namin during trainings,” Ganade added, recalling the struggles the Lady Red Warriors faced on their journey to this long-awaited first victory.
As a rookie, Rachel Lacayanga treasures this historic win with her teammates.
“Sobrang saya po kasi nakasama ko po sila. Masaya po ako na naging teammate ko sila,” she said.
Eager for more success, she added, “Sama-sama po naming dagdagan pa ‘tong panalo na ‘to kasi sobrang saya sa pakiramdam na nakakatulong ako sa team.”
With this new triumph, expect the intensity to rise as the warriors within the UE team are finally unleashed.
(With reports from Xander Lauren Cipriano/One Sports Digital)