JACK Santiago has figured in numerous wars over the years when he was still Franz Pumaren’s top deputy in La Salle.
A number of which, some even getting heated, were against Ateneo.
Fast forward to today, though, and the University of the East coach will have to find it in his heart to root for the blue side.
“To be honest, knowing coach Tab [Baldwin], Ateneo will not give the game easily to Adamson,” Santiago said, knowing full well that the Red Warriors’ fate in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament will have to depend on the final game of eliminations.
UE, already done with its elims assignments for a 6-8 win-loss record, is praying hard to the heavens that the also-ran Blue Eagles (4-9) get the better of Adamson (5-8) on Saturday to avoid complications and earn a free pass to the Final Four.
Ironically, Santiago also spent four seasons in San Marcelino, still as the lead assistant for Pumaren.
This time, he’ll have to root against his former ‘klasmeyts.'
Whatever it is, it does not discount the deep rethinking that the Recto squad needs to do, as it ended the elims on a five-game slide.
And for him, the biggest focus should be recapturing the thunder that made UE a dangerous draw in the first round - which all starts on defense.
READ: They've waited 15 years - there have to be a few days more for UE
“I can understand na off tayo sa offense, na 'di tayo maka-shoot, pero walang off night sa defense,” said Santiago.
Just take UE’s recent 77-67 defeat to the University of the Philippines on Wednesday where it allowed State U to shoot 41.5-percent from the field and saw Harold Alarcon torch it with 33 big points.
“Down the stretch, we just made lapses at yun ang kailangan naming trabahuin. It’s a matter of wanting it more,” rued the mentor, with this tendency of faltering in the endgame being the case in the Red Warriors’ last five losses.
“Nagkaroon na kami ng meeting ng mga coaches and iniisip namin if nag-peak ba kami nang maaga. Pero maayos naman kami sa ensayo. Maybe because mga bata pa rin sila, pumapasok na yung pressure.”
Regardless if UE’s next game will be a Final Four matchup against No. 1 La Salle or a playoff for the fourth seed opposite the Soaring Falcons, Santiago is still exuding confidence that his boys can recuperate just in time and still make it through.
“We’ll see. Baka sa Final Four, maka-recover yung players namin because I still believe we can make it to the Final Four,” he said before reiterating his bold statement.
“Either Ateneo wins against Adamson or we have a knockout game, we will be in the Final Four.”
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