Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
After starting the season with two straight losses, University of the East head coach Derrick Pumaren wants a stronger mental game from his players.
The Red Warriors dropped to 0-2 after losing to Far Eastern University, 90-83, in the UAAP Season 80 seniors’ basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Pumaren rued his team’s reliance on isolation plays instead of finding open shots and executing extra passes.
“I was telling them to move the ball, don’t force shots, and I told them even after our game against NU [National University],” said Pumaren, whose team lost 86-69 against the Bulldogs in the opener.
“It’s fine with me if you dribble and try to attack your man, go ahead, but if you’re just going to dribble the basketball and you know there are no stats in basketball that says ‘most number of dribbles.’”
In their game against the Bulldogs, the Red Warriors went 4-of-8 on uncontested shots and that mark was worse against the Tamaraws.
UE went just 1-of-4 in uncontested field goals while FEU was far better going 11-of-15.
Passing was also a thorn on the Red Warriors’ game tallying just 19 assists as compared to FEU’s 26.