There’s no doubt UE Red Warriors guard has been among the best players in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
He showed why, torching the La Salle Green Archers for 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 6 steals as the Red Warriors took the defending champs all the way to overtime before eventually falling, 97-88.
After the game, Lagat was unsurprisingly asked about his future with UE, especially with social media abuzz about him potentially drawing interest from other teams.
Focused on UE Amid Poaching Talks Online
With growing talks online about other universities possibly looking to lure him away from the Red Warriors, the sophomore guard insisted postgame that he remains solely focused on helping UE snap its 28-game losing streak that dates back to Season 87.
“As of right now, focus lang ako kung saan ‘yung kailangan namin mag-focus, on the team especially,” Lagat told reporters. “Kung ano ‘yung kailangan namin gawin, naka-focus lang ako sa team para makuha namin ‘yung win.”
It’s not exactly a blanket denial from the league’s leading scorer, but at least the UE community can find consolation in the fact that the Red Warriors’ best player is focused solely on giving the team a breakthrough this season.
Lagat Is Confident
Despite sitting at the bottom of the standings, Lagat and the rest of the Red Warriors remain confident. That confidence is unsurprising. UE has been competitive lately, pushing both the UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle before capitulating in the end.
“It’s giving us confidence na sana makuha namin ‘tong momentum na ‘to sa next games na magpatuloy ‘yung maganda naming runs,” Lagat said. “For the past few games against UP, against La Salle, we’ve been doing great. Sabi nga ni Coach Pao [Hubalde] kanina na we can see the improvements na.”
The Red Warriors—Lagat included—are certainly improving game after game. And it might be reason enough to believe that a win is just around the corner. It can even come on Sunday, October 25, when UE faces UP at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Better believe Toper Lagat will be focused on that one.
