Mark Lerion and Alberto Echin Jr provided the goals for the Red Warriors in a pulsating win Thursday morning at the Moro Lorenzo field in Katipunan, Quezon City.
It was the first win for UE not only this season but in two years since the Red Warriors failed to clinch a single victory back in Season 78. The win was all the more remarkable due to the fact that only 10 Red Warriors stayed on the pitch by fulltime.
For sophomore forward Mar Diano, the result was definitely due to newly-appointed head coach Fitch Arboleda’s guidance.
The business management student explained, “Mas nag-organize. Meron na kami ngayong chemistry. Lumalaro na kami as a team, hindi indibidwal. Yung paghahawak sa amin ng bagong coach namin mas may experience sila. Tinuruan kami nang maganda. Nag-improve na lalo.
“Azkals player talaga yun. May experience talaga siyang tumulong sa amin. Tinulong kami nila na mag-improve ang UE, yung bawat isa sa amin.”
Despite the win, the Masbate-native understood that he and the Red Warriors had much to improve on throughout their campaign.
He shared, “Hindi kami magrerelax kapag nakagoal kami kasi pag nagkakagoal kami, nagrerelax ang lahat eh. Parang ayaw na mag-score. Yun yung improve namin at yun nga yung ball possession namin at yung finishing namin.”
A derby date against Far Eastern University on March 5, 4:00PM at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila is what’s next for UE. A tough opponent like the Tamaraws demands maximum effort and Diano understood the task at hand.
“Maglalaro kami as a team. Yun lang. Susundan lang namin yung papagawa ng coach namin,” he vowed.
