Coach sees UE campaign as ‘big achievement’ despite exit

UE’s Wello Lingolingo after the Red Warriors’ loss to the Adamson Falcons in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the East coach Jack Santiago didn’t see the Red Warriors campaign in UAAP Season 87 as a failure despite falling short of ending the school’s 15-year Final Four absence.

UE emerged as one of the season’s biggest surprises with a 5-2 record at the end of the first round. The Red Warriors, however, couldn’t sustain their hot start and went on to lose their final six games including a 68-55 defeat to Adamson on Wednesday in a playoff for the last Final Four slot.

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“That’s what I told the boys inside the dugout. Even though we fell short, this season is a big achievement for us already. Looking back on this season before the season started, no one, nobody, maybe even you guys, you didn’t expect us to be here,” said Santiago.

READ: UAAP: Adamson barges into Final Four, knocks off UE

“Maybe it’s not for us. I will not mention the name, but you can see some of our starters, my players who played well in the first round, medyo nag-struggle ngayon kasi siyempre na-scout na. Nadedepensahan na. Again, sana maging learning experience sa amin ‘yan. But we achieved a lot this Season 87.”

Santiago believes the heartbreaking end to their season serves as a good learning experience for the team moving forward. 

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UE coach Jack Santiago during a game against Adamson in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila na if you want to be in that position with the elite teams, kailangan natin dumaan doon sa games like these. Hindi na dito yung factor na yung magaling ka, hindi na factor dito yung you’re just an average player, but ang factor dito is kung sino yung may malaking puso. I think ‘yon yung wala sa amin, yung big heart,” he said. “Maybe by having this experience, hopefully by next year, ma-improve namin ‘yon at ma-improve ng mga bata ‘yon.”

READ: UAAP: UE looks to overcome pressure with Final Four within reach

“We sat down with that issue. We talked to the players, even the coaches kasi nga tinitignan namin na masyadong naging maaga yung peak. Hindi namin alam kung hindi pa sanay yung mga players in that kind of position. But again, hindi ‘yon yung rason namin or alibi namin, but maybe may mga factors na nagkulang kami. Sa players, as a coach maybe meron kami mga mistakes. But at the end of the day, we tried to correct and resolve kung may mga problema and wala naman. Yung samahan naman ng mga players and relationships ng players to players and players to coaches, wala problema. This is the best chemistry namin, itong Season 87,” he added.

Three key players will graduate after the season, Jack Cruz-Dumont, Gjerard Wilson, and Ethan Galang. Santiago’s contract will reportedly expire in January and he’s leaving it to the decision of the management if the school will extend his coaching stint that started in Season 84.

“Technically, hindi naman ganoon kalaki yung mawawala sa amin, but maybe yung experience of Jack and Ethan. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, sa big games na ganito, hindi naman nakikita dito yung mga beterano ‘eh, kailangan dito yung may mga puso. It showed kanina dito sa game, kulang kami sa puso,” he said.