WILL University of the East’s woes finally end?
The answer will be known when the Red Warriors battle the also-ran Ateneo Blue Eagles today in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The game is set at 6:30 p.m. after pacesetting and defending champion La Salle faces another eliminated squad, National University, in the curtain-raiser at 2 o’clock.
But the Jack Santiag-mentored Warriors will have to make do without prized Nigerian slotman Precious Momowei, who will sit out the duel due to serve a one-game suspension for committing two unsportsmanlike fouls in UE’s 67-76 loss to University of Santo Tomas last Saturday.
“Hindi naman kami bago doon sa ganoon. Remember last season we faced Ateneo without an FSA also,” Santiago said. “Ang maganda lang diyan sa nakita namin last Saturday is that we saw the other players stepping up. Hopefully, by next game, madala pa rin nila iyon.
“Remember, noong hindi pa na-thro-thrown out si Precious, we went All-Filipino. So, at least nakita natin kahit paano na naka-recover iyong team. Iyon lang siguro iyong medyo i-e-embrace, just to be ready,” he added.
The Warriors, who are eyeing a Final Four berth for the first time since 2009, hold third place despite having a 1-4 second round, sporting a 6-6 record, just half-a-game ahead of the Growling Tigers (6-7).
UE and UST are trying to hold off Adamson University (5-7) and Far Eastern University (5-8) in the chase for the last two semifinal slots.
Without Momowei, the likes of Jack Cruz-Dumont, Wello Lingolingo, Devin Fikes, Rainer Maga and John Abate will be counted upon by Santiago to deliver.
The Blue Eagles saw their streak of nine consecutive Last Four stints come to a screeching halt after UST beat UE last Saturday. Ateneo last missed the Final Four in 2013.
The Green Archers (12-1) and University of the Philippines (9-3) are assured of finishing 1-2 at the end of the eliminations and will hold twice-to-beat advantages in the playoffs.
NU, which lost Malian slotman Mo Diassana to a season-ending injury in a 75-78 opening weekend loss to La Salle, will miss the Final Four for the first time in four seasons. The Bulldogs had back-to-back third place finishes in the last two years.
