CHICAGO - After a 5-2 start to the UAAP season, the UE Warriors ended their second round campaign at 1-6 following a 77-67 loss to UP on Wednesday night.
Somewhere along the way, five chances of earning an outright ticket to the Season 87 Final Four dance were squandered, a disaster that left as much damage as there are questions.
What the heck just happened?
READ They've waited 15 years - there have to be a few days more for UE
Apparently, ending a 15-year Final Four drought got so pressure-packed that the Red Warriors sank under the weight of history and the expectations of a school community that has been thirsting for so long.
"The boys tried so hard and I am so proud of them. Nagkulang lang kami sa execution and we departed from some of the things that worked for us when we were winning," UE coach Jack Santiago told me in a telephone interview.
Santiago is one of the most underrated, under-appreciated coaches in the UAAP. While a spotlight needs to be shined on this five-game losing streak, it must be noted that 6-8 is a pretty damn decent finish considering the top-tie talents the big universities have.
BUT A GOOD COACH CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
Through 14 games this season, UE shot just 35.8 percent from the field (304-of-849) and only 28 percent from 3-point distance (93 of 330).
They were an average rebounding team with 40.4 per but it's the assists that troubles coach Jack the most.
"Number one 'yun," he said of his team's tepid 12.7 assists per, a low number that suggests poor ball movement.
Tonight's loss to the Fighting Maroons at the FilOil Centre was a microcosm of UE's Season 87.
They missed 36 of 59 shots including 18 misses out of 23 three-point attempts. They were outrebounded 47-34 and they also lost the assists battle, 20-17.
The horrid shooting and the lackluster 62.3 points they average this season certainly needs improvement, things that Santiago attributed to a combination of a function of the opposing defense and his players missing open looks.
MORE HELP FOR PRECIOUS.
And while Precious Momowei carried UE with 12.9 points and 13.9 rebounds a contest, the foreign student athlete didn't get enough scoring support from Wello Lingolingo (8.8), Rainier Maga (8) and John Abate.
Still, if you're a glass half-full instead of a glass half-empty guy, six wins is terrific considering UE wasn't even expected to make the slightest noise given the aforementioned 15 years of agony.
"We wanted to beat UP so bad tonight and the boys' effort showed that," Jack said, all because they don't want to have to sweat out the next three days.
There's also the pride of punching the Final Four ticket themselves instead of watching the Blue Eagles hand it to them with a win over Adamson.
Well, that ain't happening now.
But make no mistake, the Red Warriors would love Ateneo's help. School pride trumps personal pride.
All day, any day.
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