It’s been 15 years since the UE Red Warriors last made the UAAP Final Four. At that time, the Red Warriors were in the midst of their second UAAP Finals in three years and their eighth consecutive Final Four appearance.
Since then, however, the postseason has eluded them despite some close calls.
More often than not, UE would find themselves at the bottom of the standings, and save for a playoff loss for the last Final Four slot in UAAP Season 77, it’s been a quicker exit than the Red Warriors would have wanted.
Season 87 was a mixed bag early on as losses to the UST Growling Tigers and the UP Fighting Maroons were followed up by a victory over the winless FEU Tamaraws. Nonetheless, it felt like UE was a signature win away from truly sparking a great campaign and who knew it would come against the reigning UAAP champions.
The Red Warriors had THE dream start against the DLSU Green Archers, knocking six 3-pointers on the way to a 28-11 first quarter lead over the Green Archers. La Salle would come back and flash that championship experience, but UE looked like the more experienced team in the endgame.
Through four games, the Red Warriors don’t lead the UAAP in any traditional offensive stat, but it was clear that UE’s best qualities were on display versus DLSU. The Red Warriors’ starters have scored the second-most points per game (40.8) and trail only the Ateneo Blue Eagles in getting to the line (24.3 free throw attempts per game). In terms of 3-point shooting? Well, UE is the third-best team in the league at 28.3 percent behind the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers.
Defensively, it’s the same story as the Red Warriors are the next best team after UP in terms of limiting their opponents’ scoring in the perimeter (22.3 per game). UE also forces opponents to commit 22.8 fouls per game, good for third in the UAAP.
The Red Warriors don’t have a problem topping any statistic as long as their efforts translate to the most important stat, which is wins. With the Blue Eagles, NU Bulldogs, and Adamson Soaring Falcons left on their first-round schedule, UE has a chance to finish the first half of Season 87 with a 5-2 record. That would put them in a strong position to snatch the second seed from their fancied peers or distance themselves from the pack fighting for the last spot in the Final Four.
Being away from the postseason for so long can take its toll on a team. The losses can pile up and the players start to wonder if a good end is in sight. For the UE Red Warriors a uneven start to their UAAP Season 87 campaign was set on balance with a big win over the defending UAAP champions. They definitely control their destiny moving forward and taking a step closer to a long lost goal means a lot to them even this early.
