Wild ride: UE looks at positives, still tabs UAAP Season 87 a ‘success’ despite stunning crash

MANILA, Philippines – At one point in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the University of the East Red Warriors were hailed as one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the league, once holding a 5-2 record after the eliminations’ first round and even handing champion La Salle its first loss.

That run is now nothing but a fond memory after the Recto-based squad failed to wake up from a nightmare second round, crashing out with a 6-8 record that included a stunning six-game losing streak to extend its 15-year Final Four drought.

Capped off with a sorry 68-55 defeat to the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, November 27, the Red Warriors, for weeks on end, looked like a shell of their former, dominant selves, and looked rightfully in disbelief that their season met such a tragic end.

Head coach Jack Santiago, however, chose not to dwell on what did not happen for his young squad, instead finding the positives in what did.

“I’m proud of the boys. At least somehow, we achieved something here in Season 87. Number one, we improved our Ws compared to last season. We ended up with six wins,” he said after the season-ending loss.

“Number two, we had a chance to be in the semifinals but again, because of lack of experience, we fell short. Again, we achieved something this season and we [had] a five-game winning streak but again, I guess the Final Four is not for us. The 15-year drought is not [to end] this year.”

While some may see Santiago’s statements as mere hyperbole or emotional consolation, UE indeed had a lot to celebrate this season despite such a heartbreaking conclusion.

Although captain Jack Cruz-Dumont, Ethan Galang, and Gjerard Wilson are set to graduate from the program, the Red Warriors still enjoyed multiple breakout campaigns from foreign student-athlete Precious Momowei, sniper Wello Lingolingo, spitfire Rainer Maga, and do-it-all John Abate.

In a season expected to be a down year due to the controversial transfer of MVP runner-up Noy Remogat, UE still found their identity, taking the fight to all contenders, and making a case to stay in contention mode in the foreseeable future.

“I would say this season, what we experienced will be a learning experience for the boys,” Santiago continued. “I keep telling them that if you want to be in the position of what I call the elite teams, we have to go through games like this.”

“It’s not a factor of who is great or who is average, but who has the big hearts. That’s what we lack, a big heart. Maybe by having this experience, hopefully by next year, we improve on that and the boys improve.”

While UE may have peaked a tad too early in Season 87, the fact remains that its winning run was real and was no fluke.

Come Season 88, the Red Warriors will certainly be back, red-angry with a vengeance. – Rappler.com