Unbeaten UE battles SSC with eye on getting better          

The Lady Warriors celebrate their second straight win. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

University of the East (UE) assistant coach Obet Vital is saying that coaching staff “can’t complain” with the results the Lady Warriors are so far having using a new team system in the V-League Collegiate Challenge.

What he wants is for the Lady Warriors to keep on improving for, obviously, the war that matters most later in the year.

“So far, we’re 2-0. Can’t complain,” Vital said after a 25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 25-16 victory over Mapua on Wednesday at Paco Arena in Manila. “[We’re] doing pretty good [but we] can be better, still.”

UE started to implement its new system over a month ago, mixing new players with the tested Lady Warriors. And to secure the newfound fluidity in the team, coaching staff had to go back to the fundamentals to allow everyone to adapt and build chemistry among all players.

“[G]oing into this [match], we weren’t sure how we’re gonna do given that it’s a mixture of returning players and a lot of incoming first year players,” said Vital.

Vital did not hold back praises for his productive players such as first year captain Kizzie Madriaga, along with their offensive stalwarts Riza Nogales and Jelai Gajero, whom he coached from California Academy along with Madriaga and Casiey Dongalo.

“If we can get our offense going all at once, then we’d be a much better team,” Vital said.

The Lady Warriors get the chance to again put their newfound brilliance to the test when they clash with San Sebastian at 12 p.m. on Friday, and even with Vital not saying it, their eyes are fixed on improving for the coming UAAP season.

UE finished with a 1-13 slate last season, a woeful record shared by University of the Philippines.