What’s wrong with the UE Warriors?

I used to believe Roi Sumang was a point god.

Used to.

That was until he joined the Red and Whine brigade when they lost to Ateneo again in a span of two games, via that Kiefer Ravena dagger three.

See, Sumang publicly went out that disparity of free throws did them in. Again. Eerily saying they lost the same way his coach said they lost the first time out. I get the frustration and all. But going to refs and free throw disparity and all that jazz? Can you not think of anything better to complain about why you lost instead of the officiating (which is automatic since hey, we Filipinos don’t lose. We get cheated of victory)?

Say, check the tape and see where you guys choked. Why you actually lost. Not mumbling some “basta Ateneo at La Salle, sure may lamangan sa tawag.” Because I took the time to watch and re-watch that game against Ateneo, here’s my simple conclusion: UE elected to fire away from 20 feet and out and refused to dump it down to Charles Mammie, who, in case you didn’t know, was putting up a huge double-double game. Again.

I cannot be a better coach, nor would I claim to be one, over Derek Pumaren. However, I would not be someone who throws people under the bus and say I’m not getting out of them when you can’t even utilize the same people properly.

See, Karim Abdul, no matter how much public scorn he got for ripping his teammates, was never wrong. He never went to the officiating excuse of why UST lost and why they kept on losing. He wants people accountable. His people. His team mates. His coaches. UE? Heck, not so much. They join their fans in whining.

One Clean Fight. Bah

One Big Flop. Bang, they’re dead.

Too many free throws. Really guys? Pumaren of all people should know that it is not through free-throw disparity that they lost. That he should be held accountable because he failed to run the simplest play in basketball for his two best players who are the best at their positions: the Pick N Roll.

UE’s solution need not be grand. It need not be complicated. All you need is simple enough that can be done without a hitch. You want to play four out-one in, fine, go ahead. But make sure you utilize the skills of those five on the floor. Say, that lineup of Alberto, Olayon, Mammie, Gallanza and Sumang are potent enough. Those not named Mammie or Sumang can find spots behind the arc while the point guard and the center pick-and-roll people to death. Trust me, the times the Red Whiners, err Warriors, did this, it yielded buckets, fouls and free throws.

But wait.

Those are things they don’t like doing!

What they’re actually doing is this: two passes, heave from the three-point line, pray it goes in. Or if not, Mammie save us and grab that offensive rebound and turn it to cash, gold, whatever. Things awfully go south with Arafat who wants to be LeBron James and carry that ball. Know how that ended up against Ateneo’s not-so-pressuring press? A thunderous rim-rattler from the King Eagle with all the fury in the world mustered on that poor ball.

That. Is. Ugly. Basketball.

Not to mention, poor, inefficient and dysfunctional. Sumang is better off mastering the pick and roll and finding out and learning how to attack it effectively than seriously hero-balling from the parking lot (though I admit those are really fun to watch). Also, if you don’t get the call, don’t look at the ref. Put your head down and sprint on D. That’s the reason Newsome got to the line so much. You complain, he runs.

Result?

Duty foul by someone. Equals? Free throws.

Know your problems and let the officiating be. We all know it won’t ever be impartial.

Stop whining. And freaking play ball.

Send your letters of complaint, protest and blind hate to @PioVGarcia.