By: Joaquin Cortez
After 742 days of heartbreak, the University of the East can finally celebrate.
The Red Warriors ended their 30-game losing streak in emphatic fashion, outlasting Adamson University, 57-43, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
For a team that had grown accustomed to walking off the court on the losing end, the victory meant far more than just a much-needed addition to its win column. It was a breakthrough that finally gave the Red Warriors reason to believe again.
Tope Lagat and Mo Tañedo spearheaded UE’s long-awaited breakthrough with 14 points apiece, while JM Edokou posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Red Warriors to their first victory in more than two years.
The win marked UE’s first since its 74-58 triumph over National University on October 26, 2024, in the second round of Season 87. The Red Warriors, however, dropped their final five games that season before enduring a winless Season 88.
UE also opened this year’s campaign with a 10-game losing skid, with its first two defeats coming under former head coach Chris Gavina and the next eight under Paulo Hubalde.
The breakthrough also ended the second-longest losing streak in the Final Four era, behind only Adamson’s 35-game skid spanning Seasons 62 to 65 from 1999 to 2002.
For Hubalde, the victory was a long time coming after spending the past several games rebuilding his team’s confidence and belief in itself.
“It’s a very long time coming. Sinabi ko lang sa kanila, ‘Just give your heart out. It’s the way I played back in the day, and it’s showing now.’ They’re giving it all sa floor,” he said.
Having suited up for the Red Warriors from 2000 to 2004, Hubalde made restoring the program’s pride his primary objective after taking over the coaching reins in UE’s third game of the season.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Ang unang gusto kong ayusin sa kanila ‘yung mindset nila. From there, nag-build ‘yon sa previous games namin and mga almost-wins na games namin. Sila, they started to believe in what they can do and, on top of that, they started to believe in the system,” the former PBA player said.
“Sabi ko, basta ibigay niyo lang lahat sa floor, basketball will have us back.”
That renewed belief finally translated into a breakthrough against Adamson, as UE maintained control for most of the contest before limiting the Falcons to just three points in the final quarter.
Edokou then delivered the decisive putback to seal the victory.
“Super grateful ako na this is our first win. Credits sa teammates ko, sa coaches, and sa staff who made it possible. Sobrang saya ko lang na makuha ang first win namin,” Lagat said.
Tañedo, meanwhile, admitted that the prolonged losing spell had taken its toll on the players, particularly those who had remained with the program since last season.
“It’s a surreal feeling, to be honest. Me and Tope, we’ve been playing since last year. All the losses kinda build on us. I know you don’t want to say it, but it’s kinda in our culture, whether we like it or not,” Tañedo said.
Despite the setbacks, Tañedo and Lagat continued to encourage their teammates, recognizing the importance of staying together through the difficult stretch.
“Me and him, we’ve been talking just day in and day out to uplift our teammates and uplift ourselves,” Tañedo added.
With the weight of the losing streak finally lifted, Hubalde hopes the breakthrough will fuel the Red Warriors’ hunger to build on their first victory and sustain their progress beyond the current campaign.
“Once malaman namin manalo, magugutom na kami sigurado. From here, we’re going to build from this win and hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy ‘to, ‘di lang this season but up to next season, hopefully,” he said.
Having experienced UE’s glory days as a player, Hubalde now hopes to restore the identity and pride that once defined the Red Warriors.
“Yun lang naman gusto kong baguhin sa UE, ‘yung the way we played, mabalik lang ‘yung glory days ng UE. Yun ‘yung primary objective namin,” he said.
“Now, we are starting to see some of the pride. Everyone’s trying to play like one. Unti-unti lang and we’re going to build from that.”
After 742 days of heartbreak, the Red Warriors have finally found their way back to the winning column — and, perhaps more importantly, rediscovered the belief that had long eluded them.
