Chris Gavina returns to the sidelines for UE as the Red Warriors hope for a breakthrough UAAP Season 88 victory with an upset over defending champions UP Fighting Maroons.
Precious Momowei and the UE Red Warriors are hoping to finally break into the win column as they face the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, November 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Red Warriors (0–10) have been competitive in spurts this season but have yet to translate effort into victory.
Their most recent game, a narrow loss to Ateneo, saw Momowei dominate with 19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks — a performance he hopes to build on this time around.
Adding intrigue, head coach Chris Gavina returns to the sidelines after serving a four-game suspension, bringing leadership back to a UE team in search of direction and a morale-boosting win.
Meanwhile, UP (7–3) enters the match as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won seven of its last eight games. Fil-Am forward Miguel Yniguez has been key in Diliman’s surge, scoring 11 points in their big win over UST.
For UE, this game is about pride and perseverance — a chance to turn a trying season into a stepping stone against the defending champions.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]