ALL’S well that ends well for Wello Lingolingo, whose late-game heroics propelled University of the East to third place at the end of the first round of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball preliminary phase.
The junior guard dropped a bomb on Adamson, sinking a double-clutch, game-winning jumper at the buzzer on Sunday night, 63-62, at the Mall of Asia Arena to put the Red Warriors in an unfamiliar position inside the Top Four.
With UE improving its record to 5-2 and showing its most encouraging run in almost two decades, Wello revealed why he’s unafraid to take matters into his own hands.
Heart of a Warrior
UE's thrilling run comes as validation for Lingolingo that he had made the right decision to stay put amid transfers by teammates to other schools.
“Sa mga nakaraang seasons, lagi kaming inaalisan ng players. Ako, hindi ako nagpadala sa sinasabi ng iba, kahit may mga offer din nung time na 'yun,” Lingolingo shared with SPIN.ph. “Sobrang saya ko; kung lumipat ako, edi wala sa akin to ngayon. So chine-cherish ko lang talaga.”
The 20-year-old Lanao del Norte native said he made the decision to stay because he remains indebted to the only school that gave him a second look when he tried to make it to the varsity ranks three years ago.
Coming from Mindanao, Wello said he tried out for four universities in Manila, and only UE coachg Jack Santiago called him back.
“Nasa UE ako kasi sila lang ang tumanggap sa akin,” he said. “After the pandemic, pumunta ako dito [sa Maynila], nag-try out; sila lang 'yung binalikan ako. Ngayon, sobrang saya ko na they took a shot on me.”
Lingolingo admitted it wasn't easy as UE went through a rebuilding process the past three years. Even at the beginning of the preseason, he said chemistry was elusive for a squad made up of players coming from different backgrounds.
One UE
“Dati, may barrier talaga, locals and Fil-foreigns, import; ngayon, one unit na talaga kami, may tiwala sa isa’t isa, walang nilu-look down, kaya ganon kami nagcecelebrate sa bawat panalo,” he explained.
During his sophomore year, UE finished in sixth place, two places short of a long-sought Final Four appearance. That's why, at the start of Season 87, all they wanted was a space in the Top Four.
Now, the dream is within reach.
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