UAAP: UE finds heroes in veteran players to end winless start

UE Red Warriors’ Ethan Galang reacts after hitting key shots in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the East coach Jack Santiago was relieved to see his wards step up, especially Ethan Galang and Gjerard Wilson, and lead the team to the win column in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

UE banked on the heroics of Ethan Galang, who scored eight straight points to complete a come-from-behind 56-51 win over Far Eastern University on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Before Galang made the clutch triples, Wilson willed the Red Warriors back from a 10-point deficit midway through the third quarter.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

That’s how the sharp-shooting pair responded to Santiago’s challenge after the Red Warriors opened the season losing their first two games.

“I challenged them for the last few weeks, especially my veterans because at the end of the day, Precious (Momowei) can’t help our team win alone. Every time he gets the ball inside, the whole team defends him,” said the UE coach in Filipino. “We need the help from the other players and I’m directing these two, two of my veterans, who have big roles in our team at the end of the day.”

UE Red Warriors’ coach Jack Santiago, and Jack Cruz-Dumont during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Galang credited his clutch showing to his coach’s trust after giving him the green light to shoot despite struggling the whole game, where he shot 3-of-10.

“[His trust is] great. It was spectacular. But I just wanna share the love sometimes. If I can get an open shot, cool but if I see a better shot for my teammates, I’m going to give it to them,” said Galang, who finished with 10 points.

READ: UAAP: UE rallies past FEU behind Ethan Galang’s heroics

Wilson, who also scored 10, said they refused to give up, using his season-ending shoulder injury last year as fuel to bounce back stronger and lead the Red Warriors this season.

“It’s just the hard work that we put in especially in the offseason when I got hurt, a lot of people don’t understand how much money, how hard work I’m putting in just to get back. And I think [this win was] just a testament to it,” said Wilson.

After improving to a 1-2 record, Wilson vows to continue to live up to the character of a Red Warrior as the season goes on.

“We believe in ourselves, we expect to win. But one thing I promise, win or lose, it doesn’t matter. We’re the UE [Red] Warriors we’re gonna fight I don’t care if we’re down 10, 20 or up 10, 20. We’re gonna fight no matter what,” he said.

Besides the two shooters, Santiago also lauded Jack Cruz-Dumont, who provided four points, 11 rebounds, and six assists despite his shooting struggles.

“Knowing Jack he really wants to help the team. He’s off last game [against UP] and also this game. But what we’re looking at is the team effort, I think helped the team in playing defense even he didn’t score a lot,” said the UE coach, who also drew seven points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists from Precious Momowei and contributions from Rainer Maga and Wello Lingolingo.

They will be facing a formidable defending champion La Salle (3-0) on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena and Santiago expects to see a hard-fighting UE squad.

“I hope this game will give us more intensity and aggressiveness especially we’re going to play the number one team, which is La Salle on Sunday. We’ll see how my players will respond again,” he said.