By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the East might have fallen short of its goal of entering the UAAP Final Four, but head coach Jack Santiago still deemed their Season 87 run a huge success.
While the Final Four returned seemed to be so close yet still far for the Red Warriors, Santiago said the team’s performance this season remained a stark improvement as compared to their previous seasons.
“I told the boys inside the dugout. Even though we fell short, this season is a big achievement for us already,” said Santiago moments after Adamson eliminated his team UE, 68-55, at Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday evening, Nov. 27.
“Looking back, before the season started, no one, nobody, maybe even you guys, didn’t expect us to be here, maybe some of you counting us No. 8 or No. 7,” he added. “No one expected us to be here and the first round’s 5-2 record namin.”
A win over Adamson could have secured its place against reigning titlist La Salle to end its postseason futility, but disaster simply struck for UE after a splendid opening round.
It tallied five straight wins – highlighted by its triumph that shattered its nine-year losing streak to Ateneo, but the table turned and things went from bad to worse for UE, after absorbing five-straight defeats which eventually came haunting them at the end of the eliminations.
But for Santiago, his wards need to experience such heartbreaks in order to become the best versions of themselves in the future.
“This season, ‘tong na-experience namin will be a learning experience sa mga boys. Lagi kong sinasabi ko sa kanila na if we want to be in that [great] position, kailangan natin dumaan sa mga game like this,” Santiago continued.
“Hindi na rito factor ‘yong magaling ka… ‘yong factor dito ay sino ‘yong may malaking puso, yun wala sa amin and by having this experience, hopefully by next year, ma-improve namin ‘yon,” he added.
The Warriors will head into next year with some of their veterans bidding their farewells in Gjerard Wilson, Ethan Galang and Jack Cruz-Dumont.
Numerous reinforcers are expected to join UE in Season 88 including some of its graduating stars from its highschool program.
If things go well this offseason, hopefully, Precious Momowei along with Wello Lingolingo, Rainer Maga, John Abate and Devin Fikes will be leading the pack of UE.
