RED WARRIORS SURPRISE FIGHTING MAROONS, UP ENDS SEASON WITH A 5-9 SLATE
By Maxine Louise Lagman
13 November 2016
WITH nothing else to lose in the UAAP Men’s basketball tournament, the University of the East just played out their best in its second to the last game in the season against the boosting University of the Philippines.
The Red Warriors came out aggressive against the Fighting Maroons, making their way to end their season with as much recorded wins as they can, climbing the seventh place in the league standings after defeating UP on Sunday, 80-67 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I think we played our full potential. We stayed aggressive. Even though UP made a run, we still kept our poise and we didn’t give up,” said UE Coach Derrick Pumaren.
A gusty Red Warriors came out strong by the first half of the game as they outscored the Maroons, 42-28. It was by the second quarter that UE was able to pull away from UP with and took the lead completely with 22-11.
UP exploded late in the fourth period to hopefully take the game around, but failed to do so as the Red Warriors were on a run to victory.
UE left the season’s host University of Santo Tomas at the bottom of the league standings, earning their third win in 13 outings in the tournament. The Warriors will face the Far Eastern University on Wednesday, their last game in the season.
Philip Manalang led the Red Warriors to victory and finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Bon Batiller added 14 points as well for UE.
On the other hand, graduating UP Fighting Maroons team captain Jett Manuel was left sobbing with his fellow teammates as they capped off the season with the loss.
UP finished the season with a 5-9 win-loss record, their best win total in ten years.
Manuel led the Fighting Maroons until their last match with 13 points and seven rebounds while Dave Moralde also ended his collegiate career with UP with 13 points.
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