After falling painstakingly short of the Final Four in UAAP Season 87, John Abate and the UE Red Warriors are eager to put things right in Season 88.
Teams aren’t usually one to get hung up on “what ifs” and regrets after wrapping up a season.
But for the UE Red Warriors, who were a game away from ending their Final Four drought in UAAP Season 87, it’s a hard thing to simply pass off as a learning experience.
Given multiple chances to seal their fate last year, the Red Warriors were unceremoniously kept out of the semifinals as they went on to lose their last six games, including the one-game knockout to advance.
But with the clean slate offered by the new UAAP season, holdover John Abate and the rest of UE are eager to show that they’ve learned their lesson.
Speaking to One Sports ahead of UAAP Season 88, Abate recalled about how falling out of the Final Four stung the team more than it did last year compared to previous seasons.
The UE Red Warriors finished 5th among the eight teams in Season 87, just one step short of a breakthrough Final Four stint. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
“It really gives you that bitter feeling, that feeling of unfinished business or unfinished work. There's something that you really need to learn from, like that really eerie, like sick in your stomach type of feeling, in my opinion,” Abate said.
“It was definitely a stone unturned that we should have been able to learn from, or at least capitalize on winning one game,” he added.
UE had not been to a Final Four since the Red Warriors made the Finals with a Paul Lee-led squad back in 2009.
While the other years had been just as frustrating, UAAP Season 87 gave them a glimpse of what they could’ve had. But they ultimately fell short by the smallest of margins.
Knowing just how close they were made the wound even deeper for the Red Warriors.
“Hopefully we learn from our mistakes [last year], we don't get complacent, and we better ourselves for this upcoming season,” Abate said.
No complacency
UE had established themselves as an early dark horse in the tournament last year, when they went on a 5-game winning streak in the first round — including a resounding win over then-defending champions DLSU Green Archers and Kevin Quiambao.
But for Abate, UE got themselves lost in the feeling and were unable to make the most out of their early success.
This time around, with the stinging memory of UAAP Season 87 still looming over their heads, the Red Warriors are approaching each game with an underdog mindset.
“Overall, just learning from your mistakes and being able to play each game like you're 0-0, or playing every game like it's your last type of deal,” he said.
“[It’s] not worrying about if we win this game, we'll get there, or if we lose this game, it's okay. You're not really too focused on that, just one game at a time,” he continued.
Details, details, details
More than the mindset, Abate said that UE will need to fine tune their play, especially as the competition continues to grow.
Now under a new system with head coach Chris Gavina, UE will need to sharpen iron with iron.
UE head coach Chris Gavina will test his mettle in the UAAP with the Red Warriors. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
“For a more technical area, just focusing on the little things, like rotations, closeouts. Which way do we want to force this guy, or what type of pick-and-roll situation are we going to do with this person. Just really, really little things,” he said.
UE tests its mettle early when the Red Warriors face the NU Bulldogs in their tournament opener on Sunday, September 21, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion at 2:00 pm.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.