UNIVERSITY of the East coach Derrick Pumaren has always felt that the Red Warriors are a Final Four team this season. But the veteran mentor was disappointed to see a different squad on the floor in their UAAP Season 79 debut on Wednesday.
UE lost to National University, 72-66, to open their campaign in the UAAP this year on a sour note, a result that Pumaren wasn’t expecting.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the team that I see everyday is a Final Four team. But it didn’t show today,” said Pumaren.
Bonbon Batiller scored a game-high 18 points for the Red Warriors but Alvin Pasaol scored just 10 on a paltry 2-of-14 clip from the field.
With the opening day defeat, Pumaren is expecting nothing but a big bounce back against University of Santo Tomas on Saturday.
“It was a different team. I expect them to bounce back on Saturday against UST,” said Pumaren.
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