Basketball

How ‘Trust and Discipline’ Fueled UE’s UAAP S87 Juniors Basketball Title Run 

By RJ Ballecer - December 20, 2024

How did the UE Junior Red Warriors become a title contender? It’s simpler than we think according to head coach Andrew Estrella.

As the UE Junior Red Warriors snapped a 39-year high school basketball title drought on Friday, it also capped off a dominant run in the UAAP Season 87 juniors’ basketball tournament that saw them finish with a 16-2 overall record. 

Broken down, the Junior Red Warriors finished eliminations with a 13-1 record, before dropping Game 1 of their finals series against the UST Tiger Cubs. More than that, the Recto-based side had a better showing as compared to traditional juniors powerhouses such as FEU-Diliman and Ateneo High in the 16 and under tournament. 

“It’s all about discipline, of course,” head coach Andrew Estrella told The GAME in a follow-up chat following their 78-47 Game 3 win over the Tiger Cubs at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

But more than discipline, it also helped that the Junior Red Warriors were upset by second-seeded FEU Diliman late into eliminations, which snapped an impressive 12-game winning streak to start the 16 and under tournament. 

As painful as it was, it gave the UE-based squad a humbling moment. Sure they were dominant, but that doesn’t make them impossible to beat, either.

Nung nagkatalo kami against FEU, ‘yun ‘yung naging wake-up call sa kanila that we’re beatable. So for me [building a title contender], it’s overcoming all adversities, kasi nakita ko sa mga mukha nila na talagang ang sakit nung talo. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaghuhugutan nila,” he reflected. 

“So all throughout the season, [it was about] trusting each other. Me, the other coaches…may sisihan nang onti pero all throughout, trust, and discipline.”  

The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrating their UAAP Season 87 title.
The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrating their UAAP Season 87 title. (Photo Credit: UAAP Media Bureau)

More than instilling such a culture, UE’s junior stars including Mav Mesina, Kiefer Panganiban, and Gab delos Reyes were also highly coachable according to Estrella. 

The entry of the Lao family’s Strong Group Athletics (SGA) was just as important according to the champion mentor.

“If you have a management like SGA, boss Frank [Lao], boss Jacob [Lao], you’ll be more…mas gaganahan ka, and not only ako, but pati ‘yung mga ibang coaches [get motivated],” said Estrella. 

“They’re [SGA] very important. Not only of course sa financial, lalo na ‘yan spiritually ‘di ba? Physically. Ang laking bagay nila boss [Frank Lao]. Yes, hindi siya masyadong nakakanood but he knows what’s going on, everytime we need anything, kung ano man ‘yun, nandon sila. Full support,” Estrella added, while also thanking the UE community over in Recto. 

Estrella, though, admits being surprised by his Junior Red Warriors’ dominant showing. The Recro-based squad finished in third during the Season 86 demonstration event, and planned to take things in stride come Season 87. 

“Actually no, to be honest [whether or not he expected a title], ang mentality lang talaga namin, sabi ko nga sa [previous] interviews ko, it’s one game at a time. Hindi kami mag-fast forward sa process,” he reflected. 

Yet here they are, celebrating their juniors title to finish 2024 against an equally talented Tiger Cubs squad led by Mythical Five members Jhon Canapi and Nickson Cabañero. 

And while a rebuild is coming next for this program, no doubt that they have written their chapter in UE’s storied basketball history.

Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.

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