After being named the head coach of the University of the East Junior Warriors last June, head coach Karl Santos and team manager Jacob Lao scoured the country to find the best prospects.
Though they were able to get transfers like University of Cebu’s Lance Sabroso, New Life Christian School’s Edry Alejandro, Ednas School of Alaminos’s Kristoper Lagat, and Bacolod Tay Tung’s Dylan Despi, they were pressed for time.
The only holdovers from last season’s three-win team were Joaquim De Leon and James Derek Malonzo.
“Right now, I’m being realistic. Sa team namin ngayon, we just have two holdovers,” said Santos, who is also an assistant coach in PBA team Converge.
“Everyone else, wala pang UAAP experience – lahat galing sa iba’t ibang province. Our team, I don’t want to say na it’s a selection, pero halo-halo. So right now, we are still building our chemistry.”
The off-season has been a roller-coaster ride for the Junior Warriors, to say the least.
“May mga games kami ng preseason, akala namin okay na pero hindi pa pala. Chemistry kasi process yan and we are still looking for it,” the youthful head coach continued.
“At the end of the day, sa court mo makikita yun pero malayo pa kami. Sobrang layo pa.”
Their patience finally paid off on Saturday after UE escaped Ateneo High School with a 73-70 escape, picking up its first win in three tries.
And it’s just the beginning of UE’s bright future.
“Nung kinuha namin nila Boss Jacob yan, kulang na rin kami sa oras. We did not have time to look at the boys for a month. Pero like sila Sabroso, naniwala na lang kami sa mga referrals sa amin,” admitted Santos.
“Yung iba, nasa adjustment stage pa rin. Lahat yan star players sa provinces nila pero they are still adjusting to playing with each other. Lahat naman sila fighters e. I believe mas marami pang kaya ibuga yan pagdating ng panahon.”
