‘Look at the crowd’: UE Red Warriors draw strength from fans as UAAP win streak continues

The UE Red Warriors have been the surprise team of the season, finding themselves in the third spot in the standings after a successful 5-2 run in the first round of UAAP Season 87.

After years of finishing at the bottom half of the league, things are finally looking up for UE as rising stars Precious Momowei, Wello Lingolingo, and Ethan Galang have started to rise to the occasion.

[RELATED: No-quit mentality powers Wello Lingolingo to game-winner for UE]

As the wins come, so do the fans as the Red Warriors have been filling up the seats during their ongoing five-game winning streak.

But with pressure mounting and expectations beginning to weigh on the team, UE head coach Jack Santiago said that his players just need to look at the stands to remind themselves of who they’re doing this for.

A community that has been wanting a winning season in a long time, Santiago believes that it’s his team’s job to return the favor for their fans who have supported them this year.

“Well actually after nung round robin namin nung bago mag-start yung first quarter, I gathered the team and isa lang yung sinabi ko sa kanila, na look at the crowd. Look at the UE community supporting us even ngayong Sunday, dapat nasa family yang mga yan,” said Santiago.

“So I’m so happy lang with the boys kasi they responded very well and we really dedicate this game to the school community na alam namin they spend money just to buy tickets, so talagang very thankful kami,” he added.

Santiago himself looked in awe of the UE crowd when they concluded their first round against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, October 6.

After Wello Lingolingo drilled the game-winning basket that sent UE to its best start in years, Santiago reveled in the moment.

[RELATED: Wello Lingolingo sinks buzzer-beater as UE escapes Adamson for 5th-straight win]

After the buzzer, the head coach had his eyes up in the air and looked at the UE crowd that were in a frenzy and on a high thanks to the cardiac win.

With the rest of the season still ahead of them, Santiago said that celebrating will have to be short-lived. As the break commences before round 2 begins on the weekend, they’re looking to start with a back to zero mentality.

“Back to zero kami. Maybe tonight and tomorrow we’ll be off, and then Tuesday we’ll be back to reality again, magt-trabaho ulit kami,” he said.

UE will have its hands full in the first game of round 2 as the Red Warriors are set for a rematch against defending champions La Salle, whom they beat in the first round.

They meet the Green Archers on Saturday, October 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.