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.
“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.”
