UE head coach Jack Santiago. UAAP Media
MANILA — University of the East head coach Jack Santiago had high expectations for his squad ahead of the UAAP men's basketball tournament.
Despite losing Season 86 MVP runner-up Rey Remogat who is now with the University of the Philippines, Santiago had been confident of the Red Warriors' chances this year, especially with the finally healthy roster that they have.
However, despite the return of Devin Fikes and Gjerard Wilson, the Recto-based team absorbed two straight defeats to start the season, one against University of Santo Tomas and the other from the UP Fighting Maroons on Saturday.
READ: UP dismantles UE, remains perfect in UAAP Season 87
The Red Warriors fell by as much as 27 in the third period, but all thanks to the efforts of the likes of Precious Momowei, Wello Lingolingo, and neophytes John Abate and Nico Mulingtapang, UE almost stormed back and were able to cut the lead to 10 in the final frame.
"Ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, kumpleto kami eh. There's no reason na 'di namin kaya ma-achieve yung target namin which is yung Final Four," Santiago told a few reporters right before he exited the Araneta Coliseum.
"Last season nga, kulang kami pero we're a win away from being at least in the playoff [for Final Four]. But right now? There are no reasons na 'di makapunta dun. We're all healthy eh. It's all a matter of how we finish, and crossing over the hump," he continued.
A factor that Coach Jack pointed out about their slump is the lack of effort that some of their players are showing. He stressed that this is the main reason why they are at 0-2, and he is challenging his mainstays to step up as soon as possible.
"We can still improve. We just need to wake up, especially my veterans. If you noticed, we played [better] only in the third and fourth quarters, but that's the basketball that we [want to do], he explained.
"Sabi ko nga: 'At the end of the day, somebody will win and somebody will lose, but ang importante is how you play the game. At least we fought hard, but they just need to wake up — yung mga players namin na kailangang mag deliver. I will not mention the names, but you guys know kung sino yun."
UE’s Jack Cruz-Dumont. Photo from UAAP Media
UE will go up against the also winless Far Eastern University on Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., at the Big Dome, and Santiago is looking at it as a must-win game for the Red Warriors.
"I didn't yell at them, but hopefully, the guys who need to step up will step up on Wednesday. We cannot afford to lose on Wednesday," he said.
"Yung two-game setback namin ay magiging lesson sa amin, but we cannot take for granted yung FEU. We cannot afford to take FEU easily, we need to play hard. But same thing for FEU, kailangan din nilang manalo doon," he ended.
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