The University of the East Lady Warriors won four of seven games in the first round of the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament, putting them in a comfortable position heading into the second round.
But they lost steam and were derailed, dropping three straight games as they were relegated to the lower echelon of the team standings.
With their season on the line against the Far Eastern University on Wednesday, the Lady Warriors finally avoided a meltdown and eked out a 44-41 win to improve to 5-6 and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Lady Warriors head coach Aileen Lebornio admitted the Recto side had learned a lesson the hard way during the thick of the three-game slide.
“Siguro sa akin, nakalimutan nila saan sila nanggaling. Nakalimutan nilang ang basketball, bilog ang bola. Lahat ng teams kaya kayong talunin. Nanalo kami ng apat sa first round pero hindi pa tapos ang laban doon,” she said.
“Kailangan naming magfocus pa. Sobrang pangit ng nilaro namin ngayon. Yung last three games namin, doon kami natuto especially yung pagkatalo namin sa UP. Kailangan naming magtrabaho. Lahat ng team nagi-improve. Lahat nangangarap.”
UE lost close matches in the second round to the University of the Philippines, 45-46, and to De La Salle University, 67-70. Lebornio said when the Lady Tamaraws made a run in the fourth quarter which made it close, she reminded the group to pay attention to how to close out the games strong.
“Pinaka-importante ngayon ang second round. Ginawa naming inspirasyon yung pagkatalo sa UP. Natuto kaming lahat sa mga talo sa UP, NU, at La Salle,” Lebornio said, adding the Lady Warriors should showcase enough mental toughness and respect to their foes.
“Ang problema nila yung winning attitude at mental toughness. Yun ang importante sa second round. Kung meron kang respeto sa kalaban mo, wala kang problema,” she shared.
Now joint-third with UST, Lebornio said her team is preparing double-time for the final three games of the elimination round — a crucial stretch that may decide their fate.
“One step at a time kami. Hindi kami pwede magbilang hangga’t di namin nakukuha ang isang game. Kailangan paghandaan ang bawat game.”
