MANILA, Philippines – At the most inopportune time, the UE Red Warriors have suddenly crashed into a wall of mediocrity.
After a strong 5-2 start to conclude the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the Red Warriors lost three of their first four games in the second round, including back-to-back defeats to the Adamson Soaring Falcons and FEU Tamaraws.
UE put up its lowest scoring performance in a 45-37 loss to Adamson then bowed to FEU in a 59-51 defeat on Sunday, November 3, with both the Soaring Falcons and Tamaraws boosting their Final Four hopes at the Road Warriors’ expense.
“We have been playing like s**t lately, you know. I don’t know what the f**k is wrong with us, honestly,” UE center Precious Momowei bluntly said.
“Like, you know, we are in a good spot right now, but you know, I don’t know what’s wrong, honestly. I swear to god like, you know, we have been playing bad lately, so I really don’t know what to say, honestly,” he added.
Even head coach Jack Santiago is dumbfounded by the Red Warriors’ recent struggles.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening to the team right now. Looking back, going back to the preparation, we had a good preparation against Adamson and FEU,” said the third-year head coach.
According to UE projections, the team needs just one win to secure that coveted Final Four slot the team last clinched in 2009.
It will be a challenge for the Red Warriors.
Up next for UE (6-5) are the UST Growling Tigers (5-6), Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-8), and the UP Fighting Maroons (9-2).
With virtually one foot in the Final Four door, Santiago hopes his players can shake off some of the pressure they might have been getting from outside noise.
“We will prepare for our next game and then we will solve whatever kind of adjustment that the team needs,” said Santiago.
“Until now, we don’t care if we get the third or fourth seed, we just need to win the remaining games,” he added.
“I’m confident of the boys that we will be in the Final Four.” – Rappler.com