The UE Red Warriors reset their mindset to prepare themselves against the UP Fighting Maroons in a bid to reach the UAAP Season 87 Final Four.
The UE Red Warriors are valuing mental preparation ahead of their crucial match-up against the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, as they hope to clinch a Final Four spot in UAAP Season 87.
In the midst of a rough patch with a four-game losing streak, the Red Warriors have hobbled their way to a 6-7 record with their last elimination game against last year’s runners-up slated.
With a win propelling them to their first Final Four since 2009, UE is looking forward to a dog fight and going up against a powerhouse. So the Red Warriors are going to need all the help they can get.
[RELATED: Win to get in: UE Red Warriors have 'easiest' route to clinch last Final Four slot in UAAP Season 87]
“Right now, the message is it’s great opportunity for us. Like you mentioned earlier, our fate is still in our hands. We win and we don’t need to worry about other teams,” UE skipper Jack Cruz-Dumont said on One News'
Play By Play.
“So the mentality is you know, everything we’ve been through is preparing us for this moment. We’ve had a lot of ups, we’ve had some downs, the plan is to get back to that hungry underdog mentality that brought us here and we’re feeling good.”
Earlier this month, the Red Warriors were denied the outright chance to qualify when they suffered a stinging loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles. But owing to a crucial five-game win streak during the first round, the Red Warriors still have one more chance to control their fate.
But when you’re facing a team like the UP Fighting Maroons, it’s not an easy task.
Of course, UE is almost certainly the underdog in the head-to-head match up. But with the Fighting Maroons (10-3) already assured of their place in the next round, the Diliman team will also be fighting for virtually nothing.
Despite the context, Cruz-Dumont isn’t about to underestimate UP, who is looking to bring momentum into the semis.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: UP Fighting Maroons brace for dogfight against Final Four-hungry UE Red Warriors]
“Obviously, this game is more important to us, technically, but we’re not thinking like that because UP is a great team, they’re a well-coached team, they’re a veteran squad, so we know that they’re not gonna take it lightly,” said Cruz-Dumont.
“Even though, they are already set in the Final Four, they want to keep their momentum going into the Final Four, so, I don’t think they’re gonna take it lightly at all. So we’re ready for a good battle,” he added.
UE’s elimination round closer against UP is the penultimate match in the eliminations of UAAP Season 87.
Should the Red Warriors lose against the Fighting Maroons, they are still assured of at least a playoff for the last semis slot... IF the Adamson Soaring Falcons win their match against Ateneo on the last game day before the playoffs on Saturday.
If Adamson (5-8) loses against Ateneo (4-9), UE gets into the Final Four regardless of their result against UP.
UE vs UP tips off at 5:30 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. The game will be aired live on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.