MANILA, Philippines – When thinking of the top teams in the 75th men’s basketball season of the UAAP, University
Guard Roi Sumang expected to carry University of the East.
of the East doesn’t exactly come to mind.
Left to deal with a paper-thin line up, even head coach Jerry Codinera knows the brand “contender” doesn’t fit the bill for the Red Warriors.
“It’s true [that we’re not contenders],” said Codinera, one of the greats to have ever played in the PBA but hasn’t gotten a good run as a mentor in the UAAP. “It’s really a work in progress.”
A guard-heavy roster with six rookies, the absence of a dominant scorer or even a go-to-guy when the going gets tough, UE remains in the throes of rebuilding while the rest of the league have beefed up on talent significantly.
The departure of erstwhile main man Paul Zamar, along with Lucas Tagarda, and Biboy Enguio, among others, has already left a hole for the Red Warriors but deepening that hole was the non-inclusion of BJ Zosa, JM Noble and Lord Casajeros.
“Up to now, we don’t have a leader. My previous leaders have already left, then those who were supposed to lead next are also gone,” Codinera told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.
“I just told them, if you cannot lead, be a good example, through effort,” added Codinera.
But just because the Red Warriors have a more arduous path to tread does not mean they do not have a chance to get to the final four.
But UE would need to come out blazing everytime.
“They can compete in a higher level but their consistency is very unpredictable,” said Codinera.
Two players expected to lift their squad to a better finish from last season (3-11), guard Roi Sumang and forward Adrian Santos would need to show up in the upcoming season.
But Codinera doesn’t need just two players doing all the damage, he wants his squad to remember that there are five players on the court, and each of them has a role to play.
“One man can’t carry the load, it has to be five players. We can’t afford having only three players doing all the work like the other teams,” said Codinera. “We’re not that deep.”
They may not be on the list of squads to beat this season 75, but don’t count the Red Warriors out.
“We will continue to go out there fighting, I will try to motivate my players to the best of my ability and win for my team,” finished Codinera.