After spending years in the cellar of UAAP women’s basketball, the UE Lady Warriors are eager to enter a brand new dawn for Season 88.
The UE Lady Warriors are seeking to change their UAAP fate as they approach Season 88 with a new program and a rejuvenated lineup, led by key holdover Rachel Lacayanga and new head coach Ian Valdez.
Having struggled to get anything going in recent years, UE has been scrapping the end of the barrel — settling for one-win or even winless seasons in the past few campaigns.
But with Valdez giving the Lady Warriors a new lease on life, Lacayanga said that the new approach is bringing out some hope that they can finally break out of their seasons-long slump.
“Para sakin, mas okay [ngayon],” Lacayanga told One Sports.
“Kasi mas nabibigyan kami ng kumpyansa sa lahat kaming mga player. Kasi, parang binibigyan kami ng chance lahat para mag-improve as a team para this season makakuha kami ng panalo,” she added.
The UE Lady Warriors are raring to get back to a winning culture in UAAP Season 88. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
Winding road to success
Lacayanga is one of few returnees from last year, with Kamba Kone and Jearzy Ganade already moving on from the Lady Warriors program. Having been through tough times already with the team, the new season gives UE a blank slate.
“Lahat po kami talaga working hard po. Lahat binibigay na samin ng coaches namin para mag-improve kami lahat and marami din pong bago kaya tulungan lang po talaga para this season,” she said.
Since getting to the Finals of UAAP Season 80, UE hasn’t been able to keep up with the continuous progression of women’s basketball.
But with only hard work leading to success, Lacayanga said that they’ll just need to keep pushing.
“Siguro, para samin, uumpisahan namin talaga, laging sinasabi samin ng coach namin, lagi kaming matakam sa panalo para ma-motivate kami na makakuha ng panalo this season,” she said.
With the chance to redeem themselves after years of struggles, Lacayanga is upbeat that she can approach the new year with an improved skill set.
“Alam ko sa sarili ko na nag-prepare kami, tinulungan ako ng coaches ko. Siguro, may maiiba na makikita this season na isang Rachel Lacayanga,” she said.
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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.