MANILA, Philippines - The University of the East Kid Warriors, fueled by the awesome power of national under-13 mainstays Joshua Santos and Ritchie Rivera, crushed host British school, 67-30, to annex their fifth straight win in the Metropolitan School Sports Association yesterday at the British School.
Santos fired 20 points while Rivera had 18 in preserving the unbeaten slate of coach Mark Herrera’s UE Kid Warriors in the eight-team tournament among elementary students.
Earl Lagaras contributed 10 points while Karl Bautista chipped in eight in a swashbuckling performance of the rookie team, the first squad formed out of the basketball program launched last year by Herrera with the support of UE president Ester Garcia and executive vice president Carmelita Mateo.
“This is a learning experience for these young boys and this early they have already gained self-confidence which will push them to greater heights,” said Herrera, who steered the Junior Talk N Text-QC team of PLDT top men Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas to an unprecedented four straight championships in the annual Batang PBA summer tournament.
Earlier, the Kid Warriors stormed past Don Bosco Manila, 70-53, after similar easy wins over St. Francis School, Southville and Colegio San Agustin.
Herrera, who is also the Junior Warriors head coach and Red Warriors assistant mentor, is assisted by Benjie Diswe, Jeus Albano and Edwin Ancheta.
The elementary program is the first phase of a UE basketball plan leading to the UAAP senior basketball tournament.