UE's Lingolingo, Ateneo's Dela Rosa earn UAAP Player of the Week honors

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t count out these underdogs just yet.

The University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University staked their claims as Final Four contenders in the UAAP Season 87 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, respectively, as an eventful preliminaries first round came to a close.

Leading the way in their playoff pursuits are Wello Lingolingo and reigning league Most Valuable Players Kacey dela Rosa, who were hailed as the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, with Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors for the period of October 2 to 6.

Lingolingo showed off not only his range but also his heart in a pair of clutch performances that clipped the wings of the reeling Blue Eagles and the resurgent Adamson Soaring Falcons.

The UE mainstay saved his squad from the jaws of defeat with a buzzer-beating bucket in their first-round finale over Adamson, just four days after a 13-point outburst in 19 minutes of play against cellar-dwelling Ateneo.

The Red Warriors standout hit stellar averages of 11.5 points on 67 percent field-goal shooting and an identical 67 percent from three, with 3.5 boards and 3.0 steals in back-to-back victories to grab solo third place at the end of Round 1.

Five straight victories after an early 0-2 hole matched UE’s longest win streak in nine years at five and set the team’s best start to a UAAP campaign in 17 years since their undefeated, Paul Lee-led Season 70 run.

Lingolingo bested his teammate Precious Momowei, La Salle duo Kevin Quiambao and Joshua David, UST’s Mo Tounkara and NU’s Kenshin Padrones for the weekly plum.

At the end of the day, UE’s go-to sniper made sure to leave no stone unturned as he seized his biggest moment yet as a Red Warrior.

“Sinasabi ni Coach Jack [Santiago] na hindi dapat hinahanap ‘yung laro, hayaan mong ‘yung laro ‘yung pupunta sayo. ‘Yun lang yung ginagawa ko, wala akong tinitake na forced shot. Nu’ng ‘di ako makatira ng tres, humanap talaga ako ng way kung paano maka-contribute sa team especially sa defense,” Lingolingo explained.

“Binibigyan niya ako ng tiwala, binibigyan niya ako ng kumpyansa sa sarili sa kung ano ‘yung