Abdul Sawat was full of gratitude after he played his last game for University of the East.
Sawat, who transferred from Jose Rizal University in 2018, played his last game for UE in a dramatic 61-63 loss to Adamson University in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament last Sunday.
Despite the defeat, the 25-year-old forward remains grateful for the relationships he built with the Red Warriors.
“First of all, gusto ko mag-thank you kay Coach Jack (Santiago) kase kung hindi dahil sa kanya hindi ko matatapos yung basketball career ko sa college,” said Sawat, who averaged 10.5 points, 4.21 rebounds, and 2.21 assists this season.
“Mixed feelings po kasi masaya na malungkot. Siyempre iiwan ko na yung UE na minahal namin. Alam mo yon kase buong buhay namin sinurrender namin sa school kasama sina Coach Jack.”
Despite being on the receiving end of intense criticism on social media, Sawat always made sure to give 100-percent on the floor.
The 6-foot-3 banger out of Davao always played hard in every game as he sought to help his team upset some of the league’s perennial contenders.
It turns out he felt very motivated to do so because of a personal issue that struck him and his family hard.
“Yung pamilya ko po, especially yung papa ko po. Namatay po yung papa ko. Alam ni Coach Jack yon, tinawagan ko siya noong nasa hospital kami noong time na yon,” he sjhared.
“Sinabi ni Coach Jack – Wala ka nang magagawa, kailangan mo nang ibuhos lahat para sa kanya.”
Now that his UAAP journey ended, Sawat has one piece of advice for those he left behind as well as the ones who will join the UE program in the off-season.
The Red Warriors have not made the Final Four since Season 72. One day, that drought will end.
But for that to happen, it will all depend on the ones wearing the red and white jersey.
“Siguro ang masasabi ko lang, magsipag lang, work hard tsaka ‘wag silang mawalan ng pag-asa. Kailangan lagi sigurong tibayan yung mga loob namin every game.”
