Warriors back to life with Mammie in tow

MANILA, Philippines - Despite their string of losses and misfortunes of late, University of the East still carries an optimistic outlook about its chances to catch the last bus to the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball Final Four, especially with big man Charles Mammie back in harness.

“There’s still three games (to go). We’re not out but we have some fine-tuning to do and it’s all mental toughness and maturity now,” UE coach Boycie Zamar told reporters after the Warriors’ 65-75 overtime setback to the Green Archers.

The Warriors slid to 5-6 and sixth spot, facing must-win situations in their remaining assignments against Ateneo, Adamson and University of the Philippines. With UE’s setback, pacesetting National U (9-3) was also assured of a semis berth, leaving only three spots up for grabs.

“Kung kailangan namin na sumabit para makapa-playoff para sa Final Four sasabit kami (We want to catch the last bus even via playoff) ,” Zamar said.

UE welcomed Mammie back from suspension in that loss to DLSU, benefiting from the UAAP board’s favorable response to the appeal to reduce the import’s two-game ban to just one, making him eligible to suit up against the Archers.

The decision came after the UE Alumni Association, Inc. wrote the board and commissioner Chito Loyzaga to raise a “call for justice, fairness and due process” in the wake of what it felt were “instances of unfair treatment” the Warriors were subjected to.

The group had lamented the “lack of due process” on the cases of Mammie, Ralf Olivares, and Lord Casajeros and how similar offenses by others had “much lighter penalties or none at all.”

“These unheralded decisions of the good commissioner...are visible to the naked eye of any ardent UAAP observer or fan. Most of all, they endanger the very ideals that the league espouses.

“Should this sort of scenario be allowed to prosper, the UAAP, with its rich and colorful 76 years, just might end up truly weakened, no longer the force of genuine power it has long been reckoned to be,” it said.

Zamar expressed appreciation for UE grads for helping bring back Mammie.

“Ang alumni na ang nag-appeal kaya nakabalik agad si Charles. Ngayon kumpleto na kami on Sunday (It was the alumni who appealed and this led to Charles’ return. Now we’re complete against Ateneo on Sunday),” said Zamar.