MANILA, Philippines – Roi Sumang was put in the dog house but that hardly mattered as Charles Mammie and the rest of the University of the East Red Warriors put up a gutsy showing and walloped contender National U, 64-55, to rejuvenate their Final Four aspirations in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Mammie banged in 22 points, including eight insurance markers in the fourth, and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Warriors notched their sixth win in 11 outings and moved one game behind the fourth-running Bulldogs (7-4), their chief rivals for a semis berth.
“We wanna stay alive. This game was very important for us,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren, “We know we can’t afford to have NU get its eighth win tonight so we were fighting for our lives and I think the boys played well and didn’t wilt under pressure.”
Pumaren credited their defense that held NU to its lowest output this season on a 31.58 percent clip. NU also managed just four points in the second canto, where UE wrested control.
“We really played good defense, it was the way we wanted to defend,” said the UE mentor.
Pumaren said management decided to bench Sumang as disciplinary measure for missing team practice last Saturday. Pumaren related that Sumang left their quarters inside the UE campus Friday night and returned the next morning. But he didn’t show up for their 9 a.m. practice and left no word until about 11:20 at night, belatedly telling Pumaren via text message that he had a headache.
“He’s a big part of the team and he can’t do that. We’re instilling discipline in UE and they’re still students so we have to give disciplinary measure,” said Pumaren. “It’s disrespectful to the school, to the team, to me as a coach. He’s Roi Sumang but he’s not above the law. We have to put him in his place and get his mind on the right frame."
He added it would be unfair for the players who attended practice and gave it their all if no-show Sumang would be allowed to play.
As Sumang was reduced to cheerleader, Mammie and company got the job done.
Mammie was hitting jumpers and getting rebounds while Gino Jumao-as and Paul Varilla, who had eight apiece, knocked down big shots in the fourth that allowed UE to post a 57-46 lead.
“The best thing about basketball is it’s a team sports; it’s not about one guy. It takes everybody, the whole team to win a ballgame and that’s what we showed tonight. The guys played their hearts out and Charles carried us on his shoulders.”
Sumang declined requests for media interview.
“He should (have learned his lessons),” said Pumaren, adding he would meet with school officials later to discuss if they would unfreeze their top gun for their next game on Sunday against FEU.
Gelo Alolino (13 points) and Troy Rosario (12 points) paced NU.