CHICAGO -- Finally, mercifully, the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball campaign of the UE Red Warriors concluded on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Just like the way it started last September 21, it ended with yet another loss, this time to the FEU Tamaraws in a close 84-77 decision.
Falling flat and pitifully alone at the bottom of the eight-team standings with an 0-14 won-lost record, the Red Warriors are winless, sleepless in Recto.
The fact that there are no more games to lose until another calendar year turns offers a thin silver lining. But make no mistake, the clouds are dark and heavy as the decaying program plunges into a long offseason of turmoil and uncertainty.
READ: Is the KBL next for UE's on-the-mend senior John Abate?
With John Abate, arguably its best player, already gone, UE could witness more exodus than the second book of the Bible.
GAVINA GONE?
The axe could fall soon on coach Chris Gavina. And while we are rooting for him to get another swing at ending the school's 16-year Final Four drought, even the best defense attorney on the planet will struggle to make a case on his behalf.
If UE's performance-based metric in evaluating the job security of an employee is the sole barometer, good guy Chris has a slim to none chance at keeping his job.
And the fact that foreign student athlete Precious Momowei is so unhappy that he threatened to quit the program makes things even more grim for Gavina.
In a profanity laced interview, Momowei described his team's winless campaign as heartbreaking and embarrassing at the same time.
Poor guy. He was one win short of making the Final Four last year. Nearly 12 months later, he's one win short of at least getting a graceful exit.
READ: Momowei casts doubt on UE return after ‘embarrassing’ UAAP Season
With two years of eligibility left and two years of residency required for transfers, he'll essentially end his collegiate career if he leaves UE.
So, unless he turns pro, he's stuck at Recto.
What has he done to deserve this?
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