UE head coach Derrick Pumaren. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
If the game was won on stats, University of the East would’ve gotten home with the victory over University of Santo Tomas.
With press in effect, the Red Warriors forced the Growling Tigers to 21 turnovers and outrebounded the Tigers, 50-39.
READ: UST escapes UE behind Ed Daquioags career game
Setting aside the low field goal percentage of 37.66 percent, UE actually converted more than UST, 29-27.
But the Tigers made the shots that mattered, especially down the stretch when the Red Warriors were breathing down their necks, en route to the victory.
READ: Loss to NU fuels strong first round for UST says Daquioag
UE, meanwhile, is left to deal with four-game losing skid to end the first round after a couple of valiant wins.
“We’re down right now,” UE head coach Derrick Pumaren said. “We have to forget this first round and start the second round fresh.”
The Warriors had a chance to finish strong against the Tigers, but couldn’t pull through in crunch time.
That’s why in the second round, Pumaren is hoping his players would change their mentality when it comes to battling stronger teams if they want to get out of a slump.
“They should believe they can play with these teams,” Pumaren said.