Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Derrick Pumaren hopes UE’s effort against La Salle carries over in ‘Finals’ against UST


When asked about his team’s mindset heading into its final first round assignment against fellow winless team UST Growling Tigers, University of the East Red Warriors head coach Derrick Pumaren could not avoid throwing a joke about the game.

“We need something heading into the Finals for Saturday,” Pumaren quipped that drew laughs.

“I heard there’s gonna be a board meeting sa Sabado dahil i-sisingle ticket yata yung game namin. Ni-request pa yata na i-preliminary kami sa Ateneo-La Salle sa Sunday,” the veteran mentor added.

But in all seriousness, this game between two of the bottom teams in the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament is very important for the UE basketball program.

While the other six teams have vastly improved since Pumaren took over four years ago, his program has been left behind. This season alone, the Red Warriors are dead last in points per game, field goal percentage, and rebounding.

Same could be said for the UST basketball program and a win by either team on Saturday could provide the spark it needs for a strong second round push.UAAP-80-NU-vs.-UST-Boy-Sablan-8244 Derrick Pumaren hopes UE's effort against La Salle carries over in 'Finals' against UST Basketball News UAAP UE  - philippine sports news

“We need something coming in.

“UST is playing well. I think they are stronger than their record, the way they’re playing,” Pumaren expressed.

It took six games but UE finally showed signs of life as a strong Alvin Pasaol-powered end game push happened during their 100-106 loss to the defending champions DLSU Green Archers last Wednesday.

With this, Pumaren is hoping that the Red Warriors ride the wave of momentum it gained against the Growling Tigers.

“As long as may pag-asa, then we just have to keep working and giving that effort namin and hopefully the team that had been missing the first five games namin will show up starting Saturday.”

#ReadMore  ICC standout Jake Gaspay transfers to La Salle
Written By




You May Also Like

Basketball

New Zealand Blufire-Batangas sustained its dominant form, romping Discovery-Rizal, 101-87, to claim its second straight win to start the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball...

Basketball

De La Salle University erupted for a scorching third quarter to keep its unbeaten streak alive, while National University locked in the final UAAP...

AU

University of Santo Tomas became the first team from the UAAP Group to clinch a playoff berth in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil...

Basketball

University of the East has added a new weapon to its backcourt in hopes of filling the void left by Rainer Maga ahead of...

AdU

Adamson University finally barged into the win column of the Playtime Cares Filoil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive after outlasting University...

Basketball

Jacob Cortez delivered a masterclass on Saturday night, exploding for 31 points to power De La Salle University past University of the Philippines, 106-99,...

AU

Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas kicked off their campaigns in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC...

AU

By: Jerod Orcullo The bloodline of former PBA enforcer Rudy Distrito lives on at University of the East. Jax Distrito, a 6-foot-2 guard from...

Advertisement