UE achieved impressive victories over DLSU led by standout performances from John Abate and Jearzy Ganade, who were named the UAAP Players of the Week.
A new chapter has begun for the University of the East (UE) in the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournaments.
After a rocky start in the UAAP, UE secured monumental victories by defeating the fancied De La Salle University in both the men’s and women’s divisions on Sunday, September 22.
UE’s success, which sent a clear message to the UAAP community, was largely due to the exceptional performances of John Abate and Jearzy Ganade.
[ALSO READ: UAAP standings: UE grabs hard fought victories during its foundation week]
As a result, both players from UE’s basketball program have been named the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week for the period of September 18 to 22.
Abate, a 24-year-old Fil-Am guard, posted averages of 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 steal per game in matches against the FEU Tamaraws and DLSU Green Archers. He helped the Red Warriors achieve a 2-2 record and earning the men’s weekly award, sponsored by Discovery Suites and World Balance.
After scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting against FEU, Abate rebounded with a career-high 20-point game, sealing the win with crucial free throws to hand the defending champions their first loss of the season.
[ALSO READ: ‘Like any other free throw’: UE’s John Abate gets real on clutch free throws vs DLSU in UAAP Season 87]
Abate beat out other contenders for the weekly honor, including teammate Wello Lingolingo, UP’s Quentin Millora-Brown, UST’s Mo Tounkara and Forthsky Padrigao, and Ateneo’s Kristian Porter.
Reflecting on his impressive play and the Red Warriors’ recent success, the 6-foot-1 versatile guard expressed his confidence moving forward.
“Just sticking together. We have a system and a foundation that we built upon for these last two wins so coming off of that, we have the confidence now and we know that we can believe in ourselves individually and together so going off of that, it just comes down to execution,” said Abate.
In the women’s division, Ganade’s all-around performance against the Lady Archers ended UE’s 40-game losing streak, which had stretched for five years and one day.
Ganade averaged 8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.5 steals in two games, including a standout 15-point, six-rebound, six-assist effort against La Salle that helped the Lady Warriors secure their first UAAP win since September 21, 2019.
The 24-year-old combo guard was chosen over Adamson’s Kazel Mazo, NU’s Jainaba Konateh and Angel Surada, and UP’s Achrissa Maw.
Despite the monumental victory, Ganade remains focused on the Lady Red Warriors’ goals as they strive for more wins in Season 87.
[ALSO READ: Sun always rises in the East: UE Lady Red Warriors end 40-game losing skid in the UAAP]
“'Nung bumalik ako, gusto ko tulungan sila coach and mga teammate ko. Gusto ko noon makakuha ng win, and ito na, grabe, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam. Lahat ng pagod talaga nawala,” said Ganade.
“'Yung goals naman namin, hindi namin kinakalimutan kahit na nakakuha na kami ng first win namin after ilang years. Itutuloy-tuloy lang namin, susunod kami sa mga coaches sa mga ipapagawa, and then sa sistema lang talaga, susunod kami,” she added.
The Red Warriors aim to tally their third straight win against a struggling NU Bulldogs side on Saturday, September 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena, while the Lady Warriors look to ignite their first winning streak since Season 81 also against the unbeaten NU Lady Bulldogs at the same date and venue.