Tired of losing, UE Warriors rise to the top

Michael Angelo Jugado

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Tired of losing, the UE Red Warriors streaked to the top of the FilOil Flying V Premier Cup.

CHAMPS AGAIN. The Red Warriors completed a stirring run to the title. Photo from FilOil Flying V Sports Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines– “We have everything to gain.”

During the course of the tournament, these words were repeatedly uttered by head coach Boycie Zamar and it became the University of the East Red Warriors’ mantra.

It rang true as they gained everything — from confidence to experience and most importantly, the title.

No more losing

The Recto-based dribblers started what would be a summer to remember with a 0-2 record, with spitfire guard Roi Sumang seeing enough.

Sa practice sinabihan ko mga teammates ko na ayaw ko na talagang matalo,” shared the former Letran Squire.

You can’t blame Sumang for that.

UE, a perennial UAAP contender for years, languished in the cellar of the last UAAP season and has not made the Final Four since 2010.

Always ready

After a tiring team-building activity in faraway Boracay just before their surprise quarterfinals showdown with Adamson University, the Red Warriors could have had an excuse for taking it easy against the Soaring Falcons.

But for Zamar, excuses are not allowed on his team.

“We are a very tired team pero hindi pwedeng idahilan ‘yon,” explained Zamar. “Once you wear that UE uniform, you have to be ready.”

There was also a game where UE’s prized find, Charles Mammie was benched the whole 40 minutes for arriving late in the game.

“There is no superstar on this team,” quipped Zamar. “No one is above the team. Kung superstar ka sa pinanggalingan mong school, bumalik ka na lang ‘dun.” 

‘Doughnut team no more’

One of the reasons why the Recto five pulled off the championship is when they finally found a true center in Mammie, a native of Sierra Leone.

The Red Warriors did not have a legit big man to man the middle for the team in seasons past but with Mammie’s entry, the gaping hole was finally solved.

“With Mammie’s arrival, we’re no longer a doughnut team,” said Zamar, making an analogy of his team that lacked a center in the middle and a doughnut. “UE has always been a guard’s team.”

Zamar, a former Red Warrior himself who also helmed several dominant UE teams in the past, reiterated that the Red Warriors have always been a guard-oriented team.

“Even from 2001-2003, we had James Yap and Paul Artadi. That middle has really been our problem.”

Cinderella run

After a slow start, UE suddenly cruised to one victory to another that saw them beat the then-streaking De La Salle University, Adamson in the Magic 8, and University of Santo Tomas in the Final 4, where they rallied back from the depths of an 16-point deficit in the semis for a date with defending champion National University, a team that hasn’t lost in the tournament since 2012. 

“We did not play like the ‘new’ UE Red Warriors in the first 3 quarters,” rued Zamar after their victory over UST.

Once in the Last Dance and a chance of winning its first FilOil hardware since 2008, the Red Warriors outplayed the Bulldogs when it mattered most, playing aggressive offense till the end and seeing NU stars Ray Parks and Jean Mbe foul out of the match.

“I also told the players before the game to bring their big hearts for us to win and they brought it,” said a jubilant Zamar.

It was all about heart, indeed.

Everyone a hero

The wily Sumang, who was adjudged as the tournament’s Master Most Valuable Player, got a huge lift from his teammates in UE’s dramatic championship run and proved to one and sundry that he is not a one-dimensional cager.

“This individual award will be meaningless if we didn’t win the title,” said Sumang.

Mammie was rock-solid inside. Chris Javier had his moments. Jay-ar Sumido buried game-changing triples. Ralf Olivarez sank pressure-packed free throws down the stretch, and even Lord Casajeros and Gino Jumao-as showed they’re ready to step up when needed.

Sumang scored when UE needed him to, dished out timely assists and stood as the glue, the leader that kept the Red and White of Recto together.

At the end of the tourney, Sumang has silenced his naysayers and unbelievers with a title and an accolade that made him as the top collegiate playmaker entering the UAAP.

Back to basics

With its Cinderella run now completed, UE will savor the triumph but will buckle down to work immediately as UAAP Season 76 is just less than three weeks from now.

“We will enjoy this win but tomorrow we will be back to practice and work hard. Back to reality: the UAAP,” added the ever-humble Zamar.

“If we compare this to graduation, itong panalo na ito ay cum laude pa lang. Sa UAAP ang target namin maging summa cum laude.”

Zamar and Sumang sounded like a broken record with these words they only rephrased all throughout their storybook journey this summer:

“We came here to gain everything.”

Sawa na talagang matalo and masarap makapunta sa taas.”

For UE, it’s mission accomplished.– Rappler.com

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