By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the East coach Jack Santiago has remained optimistic in his team’s chances of making it back to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament even as the Red Warriors suffered their fifth straight defeat.
UE had a promising start to the season, registering a 5-2 record in the first round but has slowed down since then only winning one game through its last six games.
The slump put the Red Warriors’ Final Four hopes hanging in the balance as the team now has to pray for an Ateneo Blue Eagles win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons for it to clinch an outright semis spot.
“We’ll see baka sa Final Four maka-recover ‘tong mga players ko. Kasi I still believe we will be in the final four,” said Santiago after UE’s 77-67 loss to UP at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City Wednesday, Nov. 20.
An Adamson victory, however, would complicate things for UE as they will then be figuring in a knockout game for the last playoff spot.
“Whether Ateneo beats Adamson or we will have a KO game with Adamson. I can say that we will be there (in the Final Four),” he added.
While most of his wards are struggling, Santiago believes the Red Warriors would eventually regain their touches to get over the hump and reach the Final Four for the first time in 15 years.
“I saw the players try their best, maybe because of what’s happening right now. We had a bad second round kaya medyo down ‘yong mga bata,” said Santiago.
“Kaya, we’re trying to overcome that hump right now. Maybe come Final Four, [magbago lahat.]”
UE actually went ahead in the first quarter over UP, seizing a 21-14 lead. That advantage however slowly vanished as the Fighting Maroons rode the hot hands of Harold Alarcon, including a blistering stretch in the final frame, to finish with career-high 33 points.
As bad as the loss was, Santiago reminded UE that all is not lost for them and they will just need a couple of days to lick their wounded pride and egos.
“Syempre di mo naman sila salubungin ng emosyon, lahat sensitive ngayon ‘yan. Kumbaga, this is not the right time to call their attention,” Santiago said. “Maybe let’s give them a couple of days to settle down again and reset.”
“Kami naman we’re just here to guide them, at the end of the day sila din naman maglalaro, we’re just here to guide them, to win games, and to play well,” he continued.
