John Abate, one of the UE Red Warriors’ top guys, during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Failing to do their part on the floor for the last five games, the University of the East Warriors are now on prayer mode with their chances of advancing outright to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Final Four not in their hands.

“I told the boys that we need to pray because previously, we had control of our destiny [and blew it],” UE coach Jack Santiago told a trio of reporters with a mix of Filipino and English after a 77-67 loss to University of the Philippines on Wednesday night.

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“We need to have a good result from the Ateneo-Adamson game,” he added, with “good” meaning a victory by the also-ran Blue Eagles that would end the Soaring Falcons’ Final Four bid.

An Adamson victory, however, would forge a tie for No. 4 with UE at 6-8, and it’s obvious that the Warriors would not want to go into a do-or-die game simply because they have failed to figure out a winning formula in their last five games.

After taking the league by storm with a five-game winning streak for a 5-2 record at the end of the first round of eliminations, UE went 1-7 in the second that jeopardized its campaign.

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But even with the slump, Santiago didn’t see a lot of lapses from his wards. Most likely, he said, his boys were overwhelmed by the heights they reached.

Understanding approach

“The players have only reached this far now. They are still young and if you look at them, there are only a few veterans,” he said. “So going to the second round, they felt the pressure, especially after absorbing losses. So it’s a big struggle for them.”

And rather than adding more pressure to the shoulders of the Warriors, Santiago is taking a much more understanding approach.

“What I am seeing is that we need the young ones to relax. The problem I am seeing is they’re running away from the system already,” he said. “Of course, they want to help, but sometimes the players are already forcing their shots.”

Top-ranked defending champion La Salle is awaiting the No. 4 qualifier, with the Green Archers, whose only loss came at the hands of the Warriors, having a win-one advantage in the Final Four.