The first of UE’s goals is slowly coming to completion as the Red Warriors improved to a 6-3 slate with a victory over NU in UAAP Season 87 men's basketball.
University of the East is not about to get ahead of itself after fueling its Final Four bid in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball.
The Red Warriors blasted National University, 74-58, to get back on track with its sixth win in nine outings on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Though firmly holding its place at No. 3 in the standings behind last year’s finalists La Salle (9-1) and UP (7-1), UE keeps its eyes forward with five games to go in the elimination round.
Red Warriors Head coach Jack Santiago tempered expectations with other teams still in the running midway through Round 2.
“The target of the team is to be in the Final Four. But honestly, with our standing right now, hindi kasi namin iniisip kung nasaan na kami ngayon. Anything can happen kasi,” said Santiago, whose Red Warriors outscored the Bulldogs, 25-11, in the third canto to power their win.
“If you see the standings, halos magkakadikit lang din naman. So, we never think na sure na kami sa Final Four. Paghahandaan pa rin namin lahat 'yung mga makakalaban namin. Kumbaga, 0-0 kami pagdating ng next game namin," he added.
Ethan Galang aims for a basket as the UE bench express their support. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
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UE is on a roll as it has emerged victorious in six of its last seven assignments. But with a grueling schedule still to come, Santiago is eager to keep his players efficient.
Against NU, the usual faces shone through for the Red Warrios with the likes of Precious Momowei, Wello Lingolingo, John Abate and Ethan Galang stepping up to the plate.
But apart from them, others also contributed to the victory — namely Rainer Maga and Nico Mulingtapang. Maga had nine points coming off the bench while Mulingtapang, though only scoring two, had eight assists, and two steals for a very efficient +9 outing.
With the coming weeks becoming more busy for the Red Warriors, Santiago was thankful for the unexpected 14-day hiatus after postponements to their games in the past few days.
“Actually, 'yung dalawang postponement ng game namin, parang may positive side and negative side. Number one, negative because ang tagal namin [bago nakapaglaro ulit], eh. Kumbaga, rusty 'yung mga players namin. But positive because the guys na medyo may mga injuries, naka-recover,” said Santiago.
“We gave some minutes din doon sa mga guys na hindi masyadong naglalaro. Because if you see the schedule namin, it’s going to be every three days maglalaro kami. So we want talagang ma-extend 'yung rotation ko. That’s why yung break namin, we maximized it para 'yung mga guys namin na hindi masyado naglalaro, maging kumpyansa sila doon during practice namin,” he added.
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Still, there would not be any rest for the weary as UE is scheduled to play twice next week starting with Adamson on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the same venue.
Both eyeing a spot in the semis, Santiago practiced caution when thinking about their next foes.
“Well, again, 0-0 pa rin kami. Knowing Adamson, they need to win a couple of games also. So, for sure, they will be going to prepare for us. So same lang kami na again, after this celebration, after this win, maybe tomorrow, we will have a break. But come Monday, back to reality ulit kami, being 0-0 again on Monday,” he said.