Red letter days: UE celebrates historic week as Abate, Ganade win top UAAP player nods
MANILA, Philippines – Jubilation runs through Recto Avenue for the week as the underdog UE basketball programs each took their slices of history in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 hoops tournaments.
Over at the men’s side, the Red Warriors completed a much-needed bounce-back week with an unlikely 2-0 sweep, starting with a come-from-behind 56-51 win against struggling FEU on Wednesday, September 18, and ending with a stunning 75-71 conquest of defending champion La Salle.
Giving a timely boost in that week-capper was guard John Abate, who offset a forgettable 4-point outing against the Tamaraws with a 20-point explosion on 6-of-7 shooting, 3-of-3 from three, and the game-sealing free throws to boot against the mighty Green Archers.
For his efforts, the 24-year-old standout was named the season’s second men’s Player of the Week, slightly edging sniper teammate Wello Lingolingo, UST duo Mo Tounkara and Forthsky Padrigao, Ateneo rookie center Kristian Porter, and UP anchor Quentin Millora-Brown.
“[It’s about us] just sticking together,” Abate said. “We have a system and a foundation that we built upon for these last two wins so coming off of that, we have the confidence now and we know that we can believe in ourselves individually and together, so going off of that, it just comes down to execution.”
The same giant-slaying energy was felt over at the women’s division, as the Lady Warriors made history by snapping a 40-game losing streak spanning five years with a 65-47 surprise burial of the Lady Archers.
Jearzy Ganade was at the forefront of that monumental victory, scattering 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block to stake her claim for the women’s Player of the Week award backed by Discovery Suites and World Balance.
Even in UE’s 40th loss earlier in the week against FEU, Ganade made her all-around presence felt, offsetting a 2-point total with 9 boards, 8 dimes, and 3 swipes in the 56-62 setback.
“When I returned to the team, I really wanted to help coach and my teammates,” quipped the 24-year-old guard in Filipino. “I really wanted to get a win and here we finally are, it’s an incredible feeling. All our exhaustions were gone.”
“Our goals remained the same even though we did not get a win in years. We just want to continue this mission and keep trusting the coaches and our system.”
UE aims to tally its third straight win against a struggling NU men’s side on Saturday, September 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena, while the Lady Warriors look to ignite their first winning streak since Season 81 also against NU — this time unbeaten in women’s play — at the same date and venue. – Rappler.com