FROM Red Warriors to “Real Warriors,” University of the East is fast proving it has what it takes in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament–at least after the first round.

“Ever since sinabi ko sa mga bata na ito iyong batch namin ng team na I think and I honestly believe na we can beat other teams,” UE coach Jack Santiago said. “So, it so happened that we had two setbacks, first two games namin. But ako, naniniwala pa rin ako na kaya ng mga players ko and maybe ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa amin was when we played against the No. 1 team.

“Luckily, we beat them. So, naramdaman na nila na kaya pala namin. So, mula noon trabaho lang kami and we challenged every challenge na darating sa amin,” he added.

Santiago spoke after his wards hacked out a gripping 63-62 squeaker over Adamson University on Wello Lingolingo’s buzzer-beating jumper last Sunday.

It was a much-needed win for the Warriors, who rose to 5-2 for solo third.

“Before we entered the gym, ini-explain ko lang sa mga boys iyong magiging scenario kapag nanalo kami. Hopefully mag-end up kami worst is No. 3, or maybe No. 2,” Santiago said. “Ini-explain ko rin sa kanila na kung matatalo kami, we’ll be ending up at No. 5.

“So iyon ang mga scenario so sinabi ko sa kanila na after the game, nanalo na kami, na-achieve na namin everything, 5-2.”

The Warriors will open their second-round campaign against defending champion La Salle on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UE scored a 75-71 triumph over the Green Archers when they first met last Sept. 22.

Santiago hopes the inspiring support of the Recto faithful can galvanize them ever more.

“I gathered the team and isa lang iyong sinabi ko sa kanila, na look at the crowd. Look at the UE community supporting us even ngayong Sunday, dapat nasa family nila iyang mga iyan,” Santiago said. “So, I’m so happy lang with the boys kasi they responded very well, and we really dedicate this game to the school community na alam namin they spend money just to buy tickets.

“So, talagang very thankful kami and this for you guys.”

To hit a long-cherished goal–a first title since 1985, the Warriors should listen to Santiago.

“But sabi ko by next game, 0-0 ulit kami,” he said. “So, hindi kami magre-relax, 0-0 pa rin come the second round.”

AFTER nearly two months of whirlwind battles in the group phase and quarterfinals, four teams are alive, fighting, and out to move closer to the Big Dance.

What gnaws at Ginebra coach Tim Cone is his charges’ match-up with San Miguel Beer’s reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.

“We deal with what we have, and we figure out a way,” Cone said. “Obviously, having to go with June Mar in the series is gonna be a big concern for us as well.”

For Beermen counterpart Jorge Gallent, it’s back to square one. “This is back to zero,” Gallent said. “It’s a series so, you know, it’s (a matter of) adjustments, adjustments.

“The best thing about now is, it starts 0-0 and we will prepare for Ginebra.”

Which squad can gain the crucial early lead will be known when Ginebra takes on SMB today in Game 1 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

The match is set at 5 p.m.

Defending champion TNT squares off with Rain or Shine at 7:30 in the other semis series.

The Kings made short work of the Meralco Bolts in the Last Eight via a 3-0 sweep capped by a 113-106 victory in Game 3 last Sept. 30.

Ginebra is expected to draw strength from the likes of resident import Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, ace rookie RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, Maverick Ahanmisi, and veteran Japeth Aguilar.

Unlike the Kings, the Beermen only advanced to the Last Four three nights ago via a hard-earned 109-105 decision over the Converge FiberXers in the fifth game of their series.

Aside from Fajardo, SMB will rely on reinforcement EJ Anosike, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, and Jericho Cruz.

Ginebra downed the Beermen 108-102 when they first met in the eliminations of Group B last Aug. 27 behind the career-best 51 points of Brownlee.

But SMB redeemed itself in emphatic fashion, beating the Kings to a pulp 131-82 last Sept. 15 on a night where Lassiter moved past Jimmy Alapag as the league’s three-point king (1,254).

“We’re playing a tough team and they’re the defending champions,” Elasto Painters tactician Yeng Guiao said after his charges ousted the Magnolia Hotshots 113-103 in their knockout game last Saturday.

Import Aaron Fuller, Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, Leonard Santillan, freshmen Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti and Caelan Tiongson, and veteran Beau Belga will be counted upon by Rain or Shine to deliver.

Although they rolled to a 3-1 quarterfinals win over the NLEX Road Warriors, Tropag Giga strategist Chot Reyes maintained a lot is left to be desired with his team’s play.

 “The only way we can go deeper into the playoffs is if everyone on the team really elevates their game,” he said. “What got us here will not get us to where we want to be.”

Reigning best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, JP Erram, and old reliables Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams will spearhead TNT’s charge.

Three quintets–the Kings, Beermen, and Tropang Giga — are perennial contenders. Can the Painters spoil the party?

CONVERGE big man Justin Arana battled reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer like a gritty gladiator in their best-of-5 quarterfinals clash in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Arana, 25, tried all his might to slay Fajardo, 34, and the Beermen but the FiberXers’ youth and lack of experience in the playoffs told heavily in the series that SMB won 3-2 capped by a pulsating 109-105 victory in sudden death three nights back.

For Arana, Converge will take to heart the lessons they learned.

“Ang mindset namin is to prove them wrong. Siyempre wala namang nag-i-expect sa amin dito, walang nag-i-expect na aabot kami dito,” Arana said.

“Kahit na talo kami this conference, this series, may mga positive pa ring nangyari sa amin and sobrang dami naming natutunan dito,” he added.

The Last Eight stint was the Dennis Anthony Uy-owned ball club’s best finish so far in its two years in the pro league.

The wards of interim coach Franco Atienza tantalizingly came so close to a maiden semifinal appearance, taking a 99-91 lead with seven minutes to play only to fade in the face of a vicious Beermen fightback.

The 6-foot-7 Arana, a former Arellano U standout, was hobbled with foul trouble in trying to contain Fajardo.

“May mga lapses kami especially sa akin kasi foul trouble ako noong first half and iyon, isa iyon sa kakulangan ko,” said Arana, who had eight points and six rebounds.

The grit and fight their foes showed were not lost on SMB strategist Jorge Gallent.

“It’s a pesky young team,” Gallent said. “We had a hard time going back on defense and everything.”

Added Fajardo: “Sobrang bilis nila. Kum¬pleto sila. May bigs sila tapos may shooters sila. Magiging con¬tender siguro iyong Converge in the future.”

With this year’s No. 1 pick overall Justine Baltazar expected to join the team in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup, Arana is convinced they can finally get over the hump.

“Iyong mga players, lahat naman kami siyempre nanghihinayang kasi we’re almost there na. Kumbaga nag-collapse kami,” he said. “Pero sobrang proud ako sa team kahit na short kami sa quarterfinals.

 “At least umabot kami dito, at nabigyan pa rin namin ang fans ng magandang laro.”

Retaining its core, linking up with a solid import, and adding Baltazar in the next tilt should further boost Converge’s title dream.

SAN Miguel Beer veteran wingman Jericho Cruz muffed two free throws that could have given the Beermen a six-point lead in the last 18.7 seconds against the hard-fighting Converge FiberXers last Sunday night.

Cruz’s two crucial missed freebies left Converge guard Schonny Winston saying one final prayer for a four-point shot.

But it wasn’t answered, and SMB held on for a thrilling 109-105 victory in the deciding Game 5 of their quarterfinals duel in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Coach Jorge Gallent said their performance against Converge will not hack it when the Beermen clash with the Ginebra Kings in the best-of-7 semifinals starting tomorrow at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Defending champion TNT tackles Rain or Shine in the other race-to-4 showdown for a shot at a slot in the Big Dance of the season-opening tourney.

“It started in Game 3 and 4 when we started to relax and gave them (FiberXers) the opportunity to come back so we just can’t relax against any team we play,” Gallent said. “Against Ginebra we just have to play well. It’s a well-coached team.

“They have great players. We have to play our A-Game for us to have a chance to beat them,” he added.

The hard-earned triumph atoned for the SMB’s painful losses in Game 3 (112-114) and Game 4 (100-114) that enabled Converge to forge a sudden death.

Gallent has reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo to thank for.

Fajardo powered his way to game-highs of 40 points and 24 rebounds while import EJ Anosike added 23 markers and 10 boards. CJ Perez also had 10 points, six caroms, and nine assists.

“We just went to him, and he just decided on what to do. If he was doubled, he would pass the ball. If not, he took it straight to the basket,” Gallent said of the hulking 6-foot-10 center. “My hat’s off to June Mar, he played his heart out.

“I have nothing to say about this guy except all praises.”

Huffing and puffing, Fajardo said the young FiberXers squad gave them fits.

“Credit sa Converge sa magandang series na ibinigay nila sa atin. Credit kina coach, sa mga teammates ko, nag-step up kami lahat,” he said. “Do-or-die na ito. Kapag natalo, uuwi. Ayaw pa naming umuwi, so kailangan naming manalo. Iyon ang ipinakita namin.”

Reinforcement Jalen Jones paced Converge with 29 points and 17 rebounds while Alec Stockton added 22 and eight dimes.

Bryan Santos and Alex Cabagnot also had 16 and 14 markers, respectively, for the FiberXers.

Asked about his looming match-up with Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar, Fajardo said he just wants to eat and sleep after the grueling series.

One thing is certain: the “Kraken” will have his hands full anew against the formidable Kings.

PRIZED forward Kevin Quiambao of defending champion La Salle is out for a swan song to remember.

The 6-foot-8 Quiambao is contending heavily for a second straight MVP award after showing the way in statistical points at the end of first-round action in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament.

Quiambao totaled 87.571 SPs after leading the Green Archers to a league-leading 6-1 mark built on league-best norms of 16.43 points, to go with 8.86 rebounds, 5.43 assists, and 1.29 steals. The team’s only loss so far was inflicted by University of the East.

Former La Salle slotman Ben Mbala was the last back-to-back MVP in 2016 and 2017.

University of the Philippines playmaker JD Cagulangan stood a distant second with 77.0 SPs, followed by Quiambao’s teammate Mike Phillips (72.143 SPs), University of the East forward Precious Momowei (68.286 SPs), and Far Eastern University center Mo Konateh (63.571 SPs).

Rounding out the top 10 were the University of Santo Tomas duo of Forthsky Padrigao (62.429 SPs) and Mo Tounkara (60 SPs), Archer guard Joshua David (55.857 SPs), Growling Tigers’ gunner Nic Cabanero (55.143 SPs), and Fighting Maroons center Quentin Millora-Brown (54.714 SPs).

The UAAP uses SPs as the sole basis for individual awards.

In women’s play, Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa likewise is seeking the top plum anew.

The Ateneo center amassed 90.143 SPs on the strength of her league-leading averages of 21.43 points, 14.71 rebounds, and 2.14 blocks, along with 1.29 assists and 1.0 steal.

UST guard Kent Pastrana trailed Dela Rosa at second with 84.714 SPs on 17.29 points, 9.14 boards, 2.71 assists, 2.29 steals, and 1.43 blocks.

Completing the top five were Ateneo’s Junize Calago (72.571 SPs), UP guard Louna Ozar (71.571 SPs), and Ateneo’s Sarah Makanjuola (67.429 SPs).

Rounding out the top 10 were National University’s Angel Surada (65.714 SPs) and Camille Clarin (64.429 SPs), UST’s Eka Soriano (64 SPs), UP’s Achrissa Maw (63.857 SPs), and UE’s Rachel Lacayanga (60.667 SPs).

What Quiambao said after the Taft-based five’s 68-56 victory over the Maroons last Sunday should serve as a stern warning to the rest of the field–he and La Salle are far from done–raring to both win it all anew.

“Coming into this game, sinabi lang sa amin ng coaching staff na we should believe and have faith na kaya naming talunin ang lahat ng team,” he said. “So, iyong pagkatalo namin sa UE is a wake-up call sa amin.

“This game sobrang gigil kami na makuha itong panalo na ito kasi marami pa kaming kailangang i-improve.”

JUST one.

PBA chief Willie Marcial said last Sunday night that teams are only allowed to field a solitary import of unlimited height in the Commissioner’s Cup set to start on Nov. 27.

“Ang imports natin for the Commissioner’s Cup isa lang with unlimited height,” Marcial said before Game 5 of the best-of-5 quarterfinals showdown in the ongoing Governors’ Cup pitting San Miguel Beer and Converge.

Marcial said the pro league is finalizing the entry of Hong Kong Eastern as a guest team in the mid-season tourney.

Marcial added the PBA and the Hong Kong-based ballclub already agreed in principle about the team’s coming participation in the next conference.

“Kontrata na lang. Pero in principle okay na kami noong team owner (chairman Frankie Yau),” Marcial said. “Kausap ko siya noong isang araw, nasa Europe siya. Gagawa na lang ng kontrata.”

Hong Kong Eastern also competes in the East Asia Super League, where squads are allowed to field two reinforcements simultaneously.

But the team will only be permitted to field one import in the PBA, according to Marcial.

“Pumayag sila dun na isang import lang. Puwede silang magpalit (ng import) pero according sa regulations natin,” the amiable commissioner said.

Marcial is saying the original import can be replaced but must be placed in the injury/reserved list in order to be eligible to return if his team decides.

But the replacement can no longer return once he’s been supplanted by the original reinforcement.

HK Eastern is seeking a two-year stop in Asia’s pioneering pro league but Marcial said both parties will have to sit down again after the conference and discuss the matter.

“Gusto nila two years. Pero sabi ko tingnan natin after this season, mag-usap kami ulit,” he said. “Hindi muna this season. By next year na.”

The Bay Area Dragons saw action in the same edition of the tilt from 2022 to 2023 when they finished as bridesmaid to the Ginebra Kings. Can another foreign quintet give PBA sides a run for their money anew?

ON a rainy Sabbath day, University of the East guard Welo Lingolingo said a little prayer then rose for a tough and twisting short jumper akin to Michael Jordan.

The ball hit the glass first and dropped into the hoop as time expired–cage Gods blessing the Red Warriors over the gritty Adamson University Soaring Falcons.

Thanks to Lingolingo’s buzzer-beating basket, UE nipped Adamson 63-62 to stretch its winning streak to five at the end of its first-round campaign in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Lingolingo’s dramatic game-winner via an offensive board off Nico Mulingtapang’s badly missed jumper sent the Red and White faithful in frenzy, with Warriors coach Jack Santiago raising his hands in jubilation.

“Una sa lahat, nagpapasalamat tayo sa Panginoon dahil iyong winning streak namin it’s giving me pressure talaga,” Santiago said. “So, I’m very thankful na answered prayers talaga iyong ibinigay sa amin.

“I’m so happy with the guys, at least ngayon nakikita ko talaga iyong character namin is starting to build and talagang ayaw magpatalo ng mga bata,” he added.

After playing with no relief in UE’s 69-62 triumph against Ateneo last Wednesday, Nigerian center Precious Momowei suited up in all but 23 seconds and showed the way for the Warriors with 14 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and a block.

Devin Fikes added 11 markers built on three three-pointers while Lingolingo had 10 points and five rebounds.

Ethan Galang returned from a knee injury and scored 10 points as UE rose to 5-2. The Recto-based five’s winning skein matched their longest since the Derrick Pumaren-mentored squad also rolled to five straight victories in the 77th cage wars in 2014.

“Sinasabi ni coach Jack na hindi dapat hinahanap iyong laro, hayaan mo iyong laro na pumunta sa iyo,” Lingolingo said. “Iyon lang ang ginagawa ko, wala akong tini-take na forced shot. Ang game-winning shot hindi ko talaga ini-expect, parang nandoon lang talaga ako tapos na-make ko lang salamat kay God.

“Iyong nakita ko iyong oras, hindi ako nag-dalawang isip. Luckily, pumasok iyong shot.”

The numbing setback mirrored Adamson’s 57-69 defeat to University of the Philippines last Saturday where it squandered a 22-point lead and slipped to 3-4 for fifth.

The Warriors trailed 18-28 early on and 34-39 at the half but battled back and pulled to within 48-50 heading into the payoff canto.

Mathew Montebon carried the fight for the Falcons with 12 points, two caroms, and four dimes while Matt Erolon chipped in 11 markers.

Cedrick Manzano and Royce Mantua also combined for 18 for Adamson.

THE ball bounced high off the rim before going in, the first of Rain or Shine guard Jhonard Clarito’s free throws, only 18.7 seconds to go.

He calmly canned his second shot that pegged the final count at 113-103 and sealed the deal, much to the delight of the Painters and their supporters.

Rain or Shine showed up not lacking in motivation when it beat Magnolia in the deciding game of their best-of-5 quarterfinals showdown in the PBA Governors’ Cup last Saturday night.

“We felt a little… maybe challenged, kasi alam namin na parang ginusto ng Magnolia na kami iyong makatapat nila,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “Iyong game nila with Converge, I felt sa kanila iyong makapagpahinga raw iyong mga players kaysa sa mag-compete sila sa laro na iyon.

“To me, it was a conscious choice on their part to play us and Gabe Norwood kept telling us that we should exact some form of revenge for that, na these guys chose us. Maybe mas maganda na magsisi sila na tayo iyong pinili nila. That was put as a challenge to the guys,” he added.

After the Painters bagged the top seed in Group A, the Hotshots clashed with the Converge FiberXers in Group B last Sept. 23 with crucial repercussions, with the winner clinching the third seed and the loser settling for fourth. The winning squad was set to tackle the San Miguel Beermen, the second-ranked team in Group A.

The Hotshots lost 82-89 to end up as No. 4 in their group and forged a Last Eight clash with Rain or Shine.

The way his wards hurdled a tough Magnolia side in a highly emotional series pleased Guiao no end.

“Pinaka-proud ako doon sa lumaban lang sila. They just competed. They fought it out, hindi sila bumigay under pressure,” Guiao, who got 26 points and nine rebounds from import Aaron Fuller, said. “This is the fighting heart that the guys showed.”

Clarito and Adrian Nocum added 17 markers each while Andrei Caracut had 14 that included three clutch baskets in the endgame and two freebies that kept Magnolia at bay.

Leonard Santillan and Keith Datu also had 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Painters atoned for a 100-129 loss in Game 4 and advanced to the semifinals where they will take on the defending champion TNT Tropang Giga in a race-to-4 duel.

Rain or Shine certainly showed up with great motivation. Listen to Guiao.

“Sabi ko lang sa kanila, play this game for yourselves, for your teammates, for your family. It will go a long way in building your reputation and building your respect for yourself,” he said.  Ilaro niyo lang, ibigay niyo lang iyong kaya ninyo. Iyon ang ginawa nila.”

AFTER doing a Lazarus last Monday night, Converge will show up tonight bristling with confidence and a big belief it can topple a powerhouse foe like the San Miguel Beermen.

FiberXers interim coach Franco Atienza, however, is not biting.

“We have to be ready with a San Miguel team who is galit, who is hungry and willing to get back from this loss,” Atienza said.

“But we will take this. It’s a testament of hope and grit. Hopefully, we grind up another one, then we’ll see,” he added.

Fighting for dear life anew, Converge takes on SMB in Game 4 of their best-of-5 quarterfinals showdown in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The match is set at 7:30 p.m.

The Beermen appeared poised to complete a 3-0 series sweep after taking a 27-point third-quarter lead in Game 3, only for Atienza’s charges to raze the deficit and score a dramatic 114-112 decision on a buzzer-beating jumper by guard Alec Stockton.

A do-or-die Game 5, if necessary, will be played on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The winner of the race-to-3 duel will face Ginebra in a best-of-7 semifinals clash beginning Wednesday next week at a venue yet to be announced.

Atienza will bank anew on Stockton, import Jalen Jones, Justin Arana, Schonny Winston, and Bryan Santos.

The youthful tactician is bracing for an expected thundering fightback from the shattered SMB side but remains unfazed.

“We might win it, we might lose but give us that chance na either we win it by playing defense, or we win it by shooting the basket. But we wanna get there,” Atienza said. “We know that’s tough and maybe that’s the closest we can go sa ganitong elite teams like San Miguel.

“The toss coin chance at the end of the game, kumbaga one play left in the game, 50-50.”

The likes of reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, reinforcement EJ Anosike, CJ Perez, Terrence Romeo, Don Trollano, and Marcio Lassiter will be counted by the Beermen in their bid to redeem themselves from the stunning setback.

But Stockton is convinced his team is far from done.

“We just didn’t give up. No matter what was thrown our way, we were down 0-2, we were down 19 or 20, we just kept fighting back. We just rode that,” he said.

Every cage aficionado knows this should be SMB’s series–the Beermen are too deep and too strong for the FiberXers who are only in their second year in the pro league. But that’s the beauty of the sport–the game is played on the hard court.