Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

Basketball

With ‘brother’ Ethan Galang out, Rainer Maga rises to the occasion for UE


University of the East faced a major setback in its bid for a fourth straight win against Ateneo de Manila University, with Filipino-American gunner Ethan Galang sidelined due to a knee injury.

His absence was felt most acutely when the Red Warriors found themselves down by 10 points early in the fourth quarter.

Despite the uphill battle, UE began to rally, clawing back with a 14-7 run that trimmed the deficit to just three, 51-54.

The momentum shift was fueled by their determination to stay in the fight, even without one of their lead gunners.

Enter Rainer Maga, whose back-to-back triples – along with a three-pointer by Devin Fikes and a layup from Precious Momowei – sparked a Red Warriors surge.

This 11-point run pushed UE to a comfortable eight-point lead, 62-54, with only 1:44 left on the clock.

Maga credited his clutch performance to the trust placed in him by head coach Jack Santiago and the strong familial bond within the team.

His heroics helped UE snap a nine-year losing streak against Ateneo, dating back to their 74-69 win on November 14, 2015, in the second round of Season 78.

UAAP-87-MBB-ADMU-vs.-UE-Rainer-Maga-9869 With 'brother' Ethan Galang out, Rainer Maga rises to the occasion for UE Basketball News UAAP UE  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“Oo kasi lahat kami family kami ‘eh. Kaya need namin ng support ng each other so kahit wala yung isa, at least meron magste-step up sa amin,” the 23-year-old guard from Davao City shared after the Red Warriors’ 69-62 win over the Blue Eagles on Wednesday night.

“Yung nasa isip ko lang noong two crucial three points ko ay talagang nagtiwala lang ako sa sarili ko at ginawa ko yung best ko, kasi ang laki rin ng tiwala ni coach sa akin.”

After starting the season with two losses to UST and UP, UE has turned things around. It has won four straight, including key victories over reigning champion La Salle and National University.

#ReadMore  Taylor Statham, Gold's Gym-Pasig stop Basilan's dream start

This brings their record to 4-2, placing them in solo third.

Reflecting on their difficult start, Maga noted that everything is now falling into place for the Red Warriors, as they aim to end a 15-year Final Four drought.

The last time UE made it to the Final Four was in Season 72 in 2009, when players like Paul Lee, Paul Zamar, and Val Acuna led the team to the finals.

“Noong off-season namin, nung nag-start kami nung January, talagang pukpukan na kami sa ensayo. Kasi si coach nag-push talaga sa amin na gawin yung best namin para preparation for the season,” Maga shared.

“Lahat kami may kanya-kanyang tiwala sa mga teammates para makuha namin yung goal namin na makabalik sa Final Four.”

Written By

A dreamer from Marikina, a reporter on the sidelines


You May Also Like

ADMU

DOV Cariño scored twice as Ateneo stunned defending champion University of the Philippines with a 2-0 victory, taking the lead in the UAAP Season...

Basketball

Following the toughest off-season any team could have ever experienced, many counted out the University of the East’s chances for a deep run in...

DLSU

Rookies Edgar Aban and Theo Libarnes played pivotal roles in Far Eastern University’s 2-0 victory over De La Salle in the UAAP Season 87...

Basketball

National University saw its seven-year reign in UAAP women’s basketball come to a heartbreaking end last season, as they suffered a come-from-behind loss to...

News

Birthdays are typically a time for rest and celebration, but for Jam Rey Mariveles, his special day was spent on the pitch. He celebrated...

ADMU

Reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa has been a dominant force in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate women’s basketball tournament, and everyone knows it. Despite...

Basketball

Prince Cariño continues to prove why he is one of the most promising talents in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament....

AdU

Victoria Adeshina has been a key player for Adamson University’s Lady Falcons, enduring the heartbreak of the past two seasons before finally experiencing success...

Advertisement