Javier gives UE hope, comes up big in win over Ateneo

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Playing in his final year, University of the East skipper Chris Javier doesn’t want his collegiate career to end just yet.

And his desire to extend his playing days in the UAAP as well as the Red Warriors’ season showed on Saturday after keeping his team’s semifinals chances going with a 74-69 win over Ateneo.

“We’re just really ready to play at all times,” said Javier shortly after collecting 13 points and five rebounds with most of his contributions coming when his team needed it most.

The Red Warriors remained in the hunt for a Final Four spot but their semis chances are not entirely in their hands. 

A victory by National University, which is tied with De La Salle in fourth place, later against Far Eastern University automatically eliminates UE.

“Whatever the outcome maybe, the most important thing is how we end the season on a strong note,” Pumaren said, whose team plays also-ran University of the Philippines on Wednesday.”We’re hoping and praying that FEU would win so NU will get stuck sa six [wins] and that Wednesday’s games will be with a bearing. It’s gonna be a battle. There’s still hope.”