UE Red Warriors never die...

MANILA, Philippines - Four basketball standouts completed their stint with the UE Red Warriors last school year and did so with flying colors.

Elmer Espiritu, Gino Etrone, James Vincent Martinez and Paul Christian Zamar, all members of the varsity team in the UAAP, received their diplomas during the school’s commencement exercises recently.

 Joining them was Warrior-fencer Nathaniel Fritz Gutierrez.

Firmly believing in the importance of education, the former Warriors made good their commitment to complete their studies while playing for the Red Warriors and received their respective college degrees conferred by UE academic officers led by president and chief academic officer Ester Garcia.

Espiritu, Etrone, and Martinez graduated with a degree in BSBA Business Management and Zamar obtained a degree in BSBA Financial Management. Gutierrez earned a degree in BS Information Technology.

UAAP Season 72 was Espiritu’s last playing season. Etrone and Martinez have one UAAP playing season left while Zamar has two.

Martinez and Zamar were the key players in the UAAP campaign of the Red Warriors of coach Lawrence Chongson and Mark Herrera.

Despite still being eligible to play in the next UAAP season, Etrone opted not to come back as he plans to establish his own business.

High-leaping Espiritu received the “Tokyo Tokyo Holy Cow Highlight Player of the Year” and the “Smart Defensive Player of the Year” awards at the 72nd UAAP season.

He was also a member of that season’s Mythical Five. With his recent successful stints in the ASEAN Basketball League and the UAAP, Espiritu aspires to play in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Gutierrez performed very well with the UE Red Warriors men’s fencing team, garnering individual and team gold medals that earned him the 72nd UAAP fencing competition’s Most Valuable Player award.

Gutierrez and his team’s splendid performance in the team foil final against FEU gave UE a crucial win that earned it the overall title.

The victory marked UE’s seventh UAAP overall fencing title and the UE streak is regarded as the best UAAP record in the fencing competition.

University marketing executive director-Warriors team manager Jesus Tanchanco Sr. said the Warriors’ academic achievements are “rare among college students.”

“Their teammates, co-athletes can look up to them as role models. To earn a college degree is a great off-court exploit and a good fall-back for an alternative career path for competitive sports,” said Tanchanco.