HEAD COACH: Chris Gavina (1st season)
LAST SEASON: 6-8 (5th)
HOLDOVERS: Precious Momowei, John Abate, Wello Lingolingo, Nico Mulingtapang, Thirdy Malaga
SUBTRACTIONS: Rain Maga, Jack Cruz-Dumont, Ethan Galang, Devin Fikes, Hunter Cruz-Dumont, Ronjie Go, Jack Santiago (head coach)
ADDITIONS: Drayton Caoile, Cole Cruz-Dumont, Dylan Despi, Nurjaden Datumalim, Kristopher Lagat, Jax Distrito, Mariano Tanedo
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FOR University of the East, last year's theme song was a no-brainer: I did my best, but my best wasn’t good enough.
Needing a solitary win to finally break the longest active Final Four drought in the UAAP, the Red Warriors fumbled a promising first round, fell short in advancing to the postseason, and eventually sacked their coach.
After everything it went through, UE finds itself back in the same spot it has been in since the days when Paul Lee was in red-and-white: ground zero.
But the thing with rebuilds is there’s really a lot of room to grow coupled with not-so-pleasant expectations. And for sure, new head coach Chris Gavina is already anticipating predictions where pundits see them finishing dead last this UAAP Season 88.
READ: Gavina vows to restore UE's lost luster to make sure Red Warriors remain in Recto
What he’s minding, however, is if the Red Warriors are content being the league’s laggards. Because in his standards, the winning culture he’s trying so hard to reinstate in Recto, being last is just plain unacceptable.
“I think that's been the biggest issue with UE and its program: How do you deal with the level of adversity and hurdles, considering that they were one game away from reaching Final Four last year? And how do we own our identity, the standards of the yesteryears, and how do we keep it or even improve on it today?” he told SPIN.ph.
Quite frankly, Gavina’s job is an unenviable one.
The Red Warriors rebuild for the nth time is far from simple. It’s actually one that necessitates implanting new foundations right on the forgotten glory of the Red Warriors. And to him, it all begins with how the players present themselves.
“We talk about owning our identity, owning our discipline, and owning up to our standards. And what does that equate to?” he asked.
“It’s swagger. It's not about being arrogant, it's about being confident and owning up to the work that you do, and then displaying it when you're out on the floor.”
Breath of fresh air
The injection of new blood helps: from one-and-done guard Drayton Caoile who’s bringing his bravado from the U.S. in his stops in Bushnell University, University of Providence, and Corban University; to homegrown rookies in Dylan Despi, Nurjaden Datumalim, and Kristopher Lagat, those immune from the heartaches of UE’s gloomy past have really brought some semblance of fresh air in practices.
“I'm not building guys that's trying to be all mayabang. I told these guys, be humble, but also display a level of confidence that when we walk on the floor, we have to have the mindset that we are the best team on the floor,” expressed Gavina.
But that’s just surface level.
From within, the paradigm shift should start with two figures who have had to rise from the Red Warriors’ lowest of lows: John Abate and Wello Lingolingo.
“They got a bulk of the minutes and they know that heartache, the growing pains, and it's going to go through them. How can they react to it and us being led by them?” Gavina posited.
“It's not going to be young guys and it's not going to be Precious [Momowei]. It's going to be those two guys that are going to show us to wherever this program leads to this upcoming season.”
READ: This is the last skill John Abate has to unlock to get to next level
It’s such a heavy burden placed on the shoulders of Abate and Lingolingo, but the coach’s belief in giving them those roles should already speak of the trust he has on the two as leaders not just on the floor but also off of it.
A Precious last ride
As for Momowei, the enigmatic Nigerian remains as big of a piece of the plan for the Red Warriors, with him game-in and game-out being a walking double-double – demons included.
READ: Volatile Momowei transforming into level-headed leader for UE
That’s why with those three at the forefront, Gavina could care less of what outsiders think. What weighs more is the change in the way UE thinks of itself, the bar it sets, and the way it holds itself to its standard.
“Everyone wants to have high expectations. For me, if I can turn them into better leaders and better people that will represent UE on and off the court, then I've already won this year whatever circumstances that may come in the UAAP,” he said.
“It's all about growth and living in that level of pressure that comes with the privilege of being able to represent UE in the UAAP. It's a matter of honor, a matter of pride, and dedication to just having a tremendous work ethic, and if we come in and we show that level of Red Warrior spirit, the camaraderie, the togetherness, for me, that's a success in itself. And the wins and losses will take care of itself.”
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Bulldogs' big picture now crystal clear
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
LA SALLE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Great expectations, meet Green Archers
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: It's Fighting Maroons against the world
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