UAAP: Rainer Maga repays team’s trust with clutch shots in UE win

UE Red Warriors’ Rainer Maga during a game against Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Rainer Maga came through when it mattered most for University of the East, sinking the big shots to help end a nine-year winning drought against Ateneo in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

Without Ethan Galang, Maga filled the gaps for the Red Warriors and ignited the 11-0 fourth run that stifled the Blue Eagles and gave them a 62-54 lead with 1:44 left from a 35-45 late third-quarter deficit.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

“I trusted myself and did my best because our coaches and my teammates trusted me,” said Maga, who scored eight points on top of three rebounds, and three assists, in Filipino after the 69-62 win–UE’s fourth straight.

The win was UE’s first over coach Tab Baldwin and Ateneo since the elimination round of Season 78 last November 2015.

Galang missed the game due to a knee injury and Maga found the best way to help the Red Warriors.

“We’re motivated because we’re like family. We need to support each other and when we’re missing one, everyone is willing to step up,” said Maga. “Even though we missed our teammate, we did our best and trusted one another, especially coach who has been pushing us to be a good player.”

READ: UAAP: UE coach feels ‘lucky’ to have slew of guards stepping up

UE coach Jack Santiago said everyone from their team has a green light to shoot, relishing his good problem of having Maga, Galang, Wello Lingolingo, Nico Mulingtapang, and John Abate.

“I know that all of them are capable of playing. So, sometimes my problem is rotating them because we cannot afford to play them all together. It’s only 40 minutes. So I challenge them that every time you enter the court,  just give your best,” said Santiago, who also praised Mulingtapang for his quality minutes.

The Red Warriors are now at 4-2, rising to the third seed and eyeing to close out the round with another win against Adamson on Sunday.

“We’ve been working hard since January and all of us are believing that we can reach our goal to return to the Final Four,” said Maga.