UE JUNIOR WARRIORS EXTEND STREAK TO 11
The University of the East (UE) Junior Warriors continued their relentless march through the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament, clinching their 11th straight victory with an 83-61 dismantling of Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The impressive wire-to-wire win not only extended their perfect record but also secured the Junior Warriors at least a playoff spot, guaranteeing them a chance to vie for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
Despite the dominant performance, UE head coach Andrew Estrella remained focused on the bigger picture, emphasizing that the team isn’t fixated on an elimination round sweep. “To be honest, hindi pa namin iniisip [yung elimination sweep]. We’re still one game at a time. If mangyari ‘yon, good for us. But achieving it does not mean you’re champions,” Estrella said. “At the end of the day, you have to work hard to win the championship.”
UE’s road to a potential sweep faces tough challenges ahead, with upcoming matchups against Adamson University, the University of the Philippines Integrated School, and last season’s runner-up, Far Eastern University-Diliman.
The Junior Warriors wasted no time in taking control, storming to a 29-8 lead after the first quarter. The momentum continued in the second frame as they unleashed a 17-4 run, highlighted by key contributions from Jolo Pascual, Neil Garcia, and Enrico Bungar, pushing the advantage to a commanding 46-12. Ateneo struggled to find any rhythm and was overwhelmed by UE’s suffocating defense and fast-paced offense.
Ateneo did show signs of life in the third quarter, doubling their first-half output with a 25-14 advantage. However, the massive deficit from the first half was too much to overcome, as UE maintained a comfortable 69-49 lead heading into the final period.
The Junior Warriors sealed the deal in the fourth quarter, with consecutive layups from Goodluck Okebata, Ethan Oraa, and Bungar, ballooning the lead to 77-53 with just under five minutes left.
Pascual, who had his best performance of the season, led the way for UE with 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Jared Ferreros added 12 points, while Oraa contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Garcia chipped in nine points, five rebounds, and five assists. Okebata, Delos Reyes, and Bungar also provided valuable contributions across the board.
This victory also marked UE’s second triumph over Ateneo this season, following a 70-59 win in their first-round meeting on October 2.
“Ateneo adjusted in the second half, so doon kami medyo nagulat, but of course, we need to adjust to that. Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila na we have to play consistent. Pero of course, hindi naman every time ganon, but most of the time, we have to be consistent,” Estrella reflected on the game.
