UE coach Lawrence Chongson leads the celebration after the Red Warriors beat Far Eastern University, 78-72, to clinch the other finals berth in the UAAP basketball tournament. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Game on Sunday
(Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. — Ateneo vs UE (Game 1)

University of the East coach Lawrence Chongson hopes to bury the ghost of past failures when the Red Warriors seek to end a 24-year UAAP basketball title drought against defending champion Ateneo.

The two teams clash for all the marbles beginning Sunday in a best-of-three series at the Araneta Coliseum.

As usual, Chongson and the Red Warriors are the underdogs.

Chongson defied all criticisms and overwhelming odds during the course of the season to lead UE to its second finals appearance in three years.

Yet he hopes to prove to his detractors that his team and himself are capable of pulling off an upset win over the heavily-favored Eagles.

"I'll be honest but I'm humbled, I hardly got respect," Chongson said. "Nung ako, sabi ng iba baka pumasok ng Final Four, alanganin or whatever. Ngayon kahit nasa finals I don't believe that it will change yung mga pag-iisip ng mga tao but that's the least of my concern."

The Red Warriors became the sixth third-seeded team to enter the finals after beating the distracted FEU Tamaraws twice in the Final Four thanks to the heroics of guard Paul Lee, Pari Llagas, Elmer Espiritu, Ridy Lingganay, and Val Acuna.

But Chongson is not letting his team feel satisfied with just having advanced to the finals. He said the opportunity is there and they want to take it.

"UE has not won a championship since 1985. Sabi nila heartbreak kids, chokers, lahat na. Don't you think it's about time na sa series na ito magpakamatay na kami sa court dahil hindi natin masasabi if when will this opportunity arises again," said Chongson.

"UE decades nang hindi nanalo sinabi ko kailan pa kami magkakaroon pa ng chance na makalapit sa ganito. Kung pwede lang kami matulog sa Araneta ng one week baka dapat gawin din namin yun," he added.

Just so the Warriors are extra motivated, reports said the school’s benefactor has offered the players a trip to New York and a new car.

Hopefully, the sad result of 2007 are buried and forgotten by the Warriors.

Two years ago, UE had the rare distinction of sweeping the eliminations, winning all its 14 games. In the finals, however, La Salle shocked UE by winning the title via a sweep.