UAAP: Momowei-less UE, seeks win against Ateneo

THE Precious Momowei-less University of the East (UE) Red Warriors will face the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles at 6:30 PM today (November 13), in hopes of salvaging their Final Four chances.

The Red Warriors, who had already taken the high road after losing consecutively in the second round of UAAP Season 87, now have their backs against the wall once more, given the harsh reality of the situation.

Momowei, who was ejected during their game against the UST Growling Tigers for two inadvertent unsportsmanlike fouls, will be out for their crucial game against the Blue Eagles. 

Meanwhile, Ateneo will try to cause more headaches in the tight race for the two remaining Final Four slots by capitalizing on UE’s undermanned status and pulling off an upset.

League’s decision

Momowei was suspended against the previous defending champions Ateneo in Season 86 for unsportsmanlike fouls, just as he was last year when the Recto-based team was vying for a Final Four spot. 

Nothing has changed this year, as the Red Warriors are presently striving to secure a spot in this year’s Final Four, while the foreign student athlete will have to serve another suspension when he is most needed.

“A student-athlete disqualified, thrown out, or ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike behavior is prohibited from participating in the immediately following game,” the league said on the statement on Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group

“Momowei received an unsportsmanlike foul (Category 2) at the 5:18 mark of the second quarter of the game. A second unsportsmanlike foul (Category 2) was called at the 5:07 mark of the fourth quarter.”

Momowei already apologized to Mo Tounkara, Gelo Crisostomo, and the entire UST squad last Saturday, immediately following the game, and expressed their wish to appeal the calls, which ended up getting denied.

“The foul wasn’t intentional,” he said last Saturday. “I was going for a lay-up, and honestly, I was expecting an and-one. I must have dropped my elbow [on Crisostomo], but it was unintentional.”

Next man up

Despite losing one of their important pieces, if not their key piece, in 6-foot-9 all around center, UE will face Ateneo with whatever they have left to salvage their terrible 1-4 second round win-loss record.

“Hindi naman kami bago don sa ganon. Remember last season na we faced Ateneo without an FSA also. Ang maganda lang diyan sa nakita namin last Saturday is that we saw the other players stepping up. Hopefully, by next game, madala pa rin nila ‘yon,” he said.

“Nung hindi pa nato-thrown out si Precious, we went All-Filipino. So at least nakita natin kahit papaano na naka-recover yung team. ‘Yon lang siguro yung medyo i-eembrace namin na we’re gonna practice on Monday without Precious muna just to be ready.”

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles (3-9) saw their nine-year record of Final Four appearances broken on Saturday, with Ateneo last missing the Final Four in 2013. 

The DLSU Green Archers will meet the also-eliminated NU Bulldogs this afternoon at 2:00 PM, followed by the match between UE and Ateneo at 6:30 PM. All of these games will be held in the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.