FOR the second straight game, University of the East forced an opponent to commit more than 30 turnovers in a game.
But for the second time, the Red Warriors couldn’t come up with the win.
That has befuddled first-year UE coach Derrick Pumaren, who has seen his team make the stops on defense, force the turnovers, but time and again fall short of a victory.
“I told the boys I’m amazed that our opponents are making 30 turnovers but they (still) win the ballgame,” said an incredulous Pumaren. “There is something wrong with us.”
The Red Warriors lost to Far Eastern University on Wednesday, 73-63, to fall to a 2-2 win-loss record despite Pumaren's trademark full-court press forcing the Tamaraws to 31 turnovers.
Just three days earlier, the UE Red Warriors were also beaten by De La Salle, 60-58, even with the Green Archers having 36 turnovers.
When pressed on what is wrong with the team, Pumaren said they are not playing as a team offensively.
“They are not playing as a team. They are just thinking of themselves and not putting the team first,” said Pumaren.
Paul Varilla was the top scorer for the Red Warriors in the game with 12 points. But UE star Ro Sumang was held to seven points by the Tamaraws.
The leading three-point shooting team in the league prior to the FEU game, UE went just 4-of-21 from beyond the arc against the Tamaraws.
Pumaren said the struggles on offense are down to poor decisions by his players.
“Defensively, we’ve made things but we still lose the game. It’s amazing," rued Pumaren. "A lot of forced shots. Instead of making the extra pass, we are not doing it.”
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