UE's PBL stint prepared Warriors for UAAP wars

University of the East coach Lawrence Chongson believes the Red Warriors’ stint in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) is one of the factors that prepared them in time for the hard grind in the UAAP.

During their PBL stint, the Cobra Energy Warriors settled for third place after losing to eventual champion Oracle Residences in the PG Flex Unity Cup. “Siguro, 65 percent of our success is because of our stint in the PBL," said Chongson during Friday’s SCOOP forum. “Yung experience talaga sa PBL, nakatulong dahil yung mga collegiate players doon, minamama ng mga veterans." And the other 35 percent? “I think galing ‘yun sa experience namin along the way," Chongson added. UE is back in the UAAP finals where they will meet Ateneo on Sunday at the start of the best-of-three title series at the Araneta Coliseum. But UE’s journey towards earning a finals ticket was a bumpy one. At one point, the Red Warriors hold a 4-4 win-loss mark early in the second round but has not lost since winning eight straight games including two victories over No. 2 seed Far Eastern University in the Final Four. “Our first eight games were bumpy. Maraming batikos, mayroong chinks in the armor," Chongson recalled. Chongson said that the Red Warriors adjusted along the way as they are now in search of breaking a 23-year title drought. UE last won a championship in 1985 when Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera led the team in completing its back-to-back title bid. “Kahit ako nag-adjust. Bagong atmostphere para sa akin ang collegiate basketball. Marami akong natutunan. Adjusted na ako pero marami pa akong hindi alam," said Chongson, a former MBA coach and a PBA assistant coach. – GMANews.TV