While University of the East finally celebrated the end of its 30-game losing streak, Adamson University was left to absorb the painful distinction of being the team on the other end of the Red Warriors’ long-awaited breakthrough.

Despite the disappointment, Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela made sure his team displayed sportsmanship after UE’s 53-47 victory over Adamson, leading the customary post-game handshakes and exchanging smiles with the opposition.

The defeat extended Adamson’s winless run in the second round of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament.

For the Season 78 champion mentor, as painful as the loss was, UE deserved the victory, especially after the Red Warriors dug deep to finally snap their skid following narrow defeats against the likes of De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines.

“UE deserved the win,” said Racela.

“That’s something we talked about before the game: if you want to get your first win of the second round, you really have to get it.”

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

Perhaps the clearest indication of Adamson’s struggles came in the final frame, when the Soaring Falcons managed just one field goal throughout the entire fourth quarter.

Matt Erolon’s three-pointer at the 2:51 mark, which pulled Adamson within three at 47-50, proved to be the team’s lone field goal in the period as the Falcons struggled to mount a comeback.

Racela could only watch from the sidelines as his squad failed to find its shooting touch.

While the Soaring Falcons intend to dissect their performance when they return to the drawing board, the former Talk ‘N Text mentor lamented the struggles of his primary trio of Monty Montebon, Erolon, and Ray Allen Torres, who combined for a dismal 3-of-30 shooting clip from the field.

“We have to watch the video, but it’s hard to battle when your top three, supposedly, cannot shoot a basket,” he said.

“I think they had legit looks naman.”

Now carrying a four-game losing streak and a 4-7 record after opening the second round without a victory, Adamson faces an uphill battle with remaining assignments against Ateneo de Manila University, La Salle, and the University of Santo Tomas.

With their margin for error shrinking with each game, the Soaring Falcons have little choice but to regroup, keep fighting, and make the most of their remaining opportunities.

“Just continue the fight,” said Racela.

“Continue the fight, and hopefully we’ll pull through.”

The post Nash Racela accepts UE’s breakthrough, challenges Adamson to bounce back appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

By: Joaquin Cortez

After 742 days of heartbreak, the University of the East can finally celebrate.

The Red Warriors ended their 30-game losing streak in emphatic fashion, outlasting Adamson University, 57-43, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

For a team that had grown accustomed to walking off the court on the losing end, the victory meant far more than just a much-needed addition to its win column. It was a breakthrough that finally gave the Red Warriors reason to believe again.

Tope Lagat and Mo Tañedo spearheaded UE’s long-awaited breakthrough with 14 points apiece, while JM Edokou posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Red Warriors to their first victory in more than two years.

The win marked UE’s first since its 74-58 triumph over National University on October 26, 2024, in the second round of Season 87. The Red Warriors, however, dropped their final five games that season before enduring a winless Season 88.

UE also opened this year’s campaign with a 10-game losing skid, with its first two defeats coming under former head coach Chris Gavina and the next eight under Paulo Hubalde.

The breakthrough also ended the second-longest losing streak in the Final Four era, behind only Adamson’s 35-game skid spanning Seasons 62 to 65 from 1999 to 2002.

For Hubalde, the victory was a long time coming after spending the past several games rebuilding his team’s confidence and belief in itself.

“It’s a very long time coming. Sinabi ko lang sa kanila, ‘Just give your heart out. It’s the way I played back in the day, and it’s showing now.’ They’re giving it all sa floor,” he said.

Having suited up for the Red Warriors from 2000 to 2004, Hubalde made restoring the program’s pride his primary objective after taking over the coaching reins in UE’s third game of the season.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

“Ang unang gusto kong ayusin sa kanila ‘yung mindset nila. From there, nag-build ‘yon sa previous games namin and mga almost-wins na games namin. Sila, they started to believe in what they can do and, on top of that, they started to believe in the system,” the former PBA player said.

“Sabi ko, basta ibigay niyo lang lahat sa floor, basketball will have us back.”

That renewed belief finally translated into a breakthrough against Adamson, as UE maintained control for most of the contest before limiting the Falcons to just three points in the final quarter.

Edokou then delivered the decisive putback to seal the victory.

“Super grateful ako na this is our first win. Credits sa teammates ko, sa coaches, and sa staff who made it possible. Sobrang saya ko lang na makuha ang first win namin,” Lagat said.

Tañedo, meanwhile, admitted that the prolonged losing spell had taken its toll on the players, particularly those who had remained with the program since last season.

“It’s a surreal feeling, to be honest. Me and Tope, we’ve been playing since last year. All the losses kinda build on us. I know you don’t want to say it, but it’s kinda in our culture, whether we like it or not,” Tañedo said.

Despite the setbacks, Tañedo and Lagat continued to encourage their teammates, recognizing the importance of staying together through the difficult stretch.

“Me and him, we’ve been talking just day in and day out to uplift our teammates and uplift ourselves,” Tañedo added.

With the weight of the losing streak finally lifted, Hubalde hopes the breakthrough will fuel the Red Warriors’ hunger to build on their first victory and sustain their progress beyond the current campaign.

“Once malaman namin manalo, magugutom na kami sigurado. From here, we’re going to build from this win and hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy ‘to, ‘di lang this season but up to next season, hopefully,” he said.

Having experienced UE’s glory days as a player, Hubalde now hopes to restore the identity and pride that once defined the Red Warriors.

“Yun lang naman gusto kong baguhin sa UE, ‘yung the way we played, mabalik lang ‘yung glory days ng UE. Yun ‘yung primary objective namin,” he said.

“Now, we are starting to see some of the pride. Everyone’s trying to play like one. Unti-unti lang and we’re going to build from that.”

After 742 days of heartbreak, the Red Warriors have finally found their way back to the winning column — and, perhaps more importantly, rediscovered the belief that had long eluded them.

The post Paulo Hubalde wants UE to reclaim lost glory after ending 30-game skid appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

University of Perpetual Help System DALTA extended San Sebastian College-Recoletos’ misery, sending the Golden Stags to their 17th consecutive defeat dating back to last season with an 82-75 victory in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Friday.

The loss capped a winless 13-game elimination round campaign for San Sebastian, which has yet to find its footing after also struggling in the previous season.

Perpetual Help, meanwhile, climbed to a 4-8 record, although the Altas had to withstand a late San Sebastian uprising to secure the victory.

The Golden Stags threatened to erase a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter, unleashing a 9-1 run that pulled them within four, 75-71, with 2:04 remaining.

But Mark Gojo Cruz put a stop to the rally with a crucial inside basket before Jim Corpuz converted both free throws to restore an eight-point cushion, 79-71, with less than a minute left.

“Fortunately, coach Olsen (Racela) reminded us to always play like underdogs,” said assistant coach Allan Albano, who handled the postgame interview as Racela had to rush to the Smart Araneta Coliseum for Barangay Ginebra’s quarterfinals clash against San Miguel in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

“Buti no’ng first quarter, nakalamang kami nang maganda-ganda pero gano’n talaga ang basketball. It’s a game of runs, nagrun kami, nagrun din ang San Sebastian pero buti na lang, nasustain namin sa fourth quarter,” Albano added.

Gojo Cruz led the Altas with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, matching Juan Tulabut’s scoring output. LA Casinillo chipped in 14 points.

Niel Castor paced San Sebastian with 18 points, while Ralph Gabat added 15 in the losing effort.

The two teams are set to meet again in the Group B play-in stage, where Perpetual Help will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage.

Before their postseason rematch, however, the Altas still have one elimination round assignment against Arellano University next week.

The Scores:

Perpetual Help 82 – Gojo Cruz 19, Tulabut 19, Casinillo 14, Gelsano 7, Montemayor 5, Roluna 5, Orgo 4, Corpuz 4, Duremdes 2, Cristino 2, Cauguiran 1, Borja 0, Yuhico 0, Maglupay 0

San Sebastian 75 – Castor 18, Gabat 15, Muktimar 8, Salvo 8, Bacani 5, Velasco 5, Cuya 5, Ricio 4, Suico 4, Alforque 3, Segovia 0, Barroga 0, Dimaunahan 0

Quarterscores: 31-14, 47-34, 59-47, 82-75

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