University of the East had a forgettable UAAP Season 84, going 0-14 in the men’s basketball tournament.
But the Red Warriors of Season 85 were a different breed, starting 3-2 after a 78-68 win over University of Santo Tomas last October 16.
And that victory – coupled with wins over Far Eastern University and De La Salle University – set social media abuzz and sent the UE community back to the venues.
Their sixth game was a big clash against defending champion University of the Philippines And legendary Red Warriors Paul Lee, Rey Suerte, and Roi Sumang among others trooped to the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
However, that would be the start of a downward stretch for UE. It lost against the Fighting Maroons, Ateneo de Manila University, and the Tamaraws to drop to 3-5.
Then the Red Warriors arrested the three-game skid on Wednesday against the Growling Tigers with a 30-point rout, 81-51.
“Honestly, I told the boys not to really listen to the social media,” shared UE coach Jack Santiago on what he said to his team to go back to their winning ways.
“Maybe because of the hype masyado for the last week, so medyo baka nadadala sila masyado ng social media.”
Luis Villegas led the Red Warriors with 16 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. And he recognized the noise they have created with a rejuvenated basketball program.
But the 6-foot-7 one-and-done student-athlete out of Stanislaus State is also aware that the job is not only to bring UE back on the map by winning games. They must also enter the Final Four for the first time in 13 years.
“We know it’s out there, but at the end of the day, we know we’re basketball players and we know what we came here to do,” said Villegas, who ranked seventh in the MVP race after the first round.
“We know that it’s out there but we know we have a job to do.”
