At First Glance: University of the East Red Warriors

Whipping boy no more. The Red Warriors are no longer running spearless these days. They’ve found a leader and lieutenant they can pair him with.

The Good

Roi Sumang is the second coming of LA Tenorio.

He’s a point god in the collegiate ranks. You can make a case for the NCAA’s Hammer, Baser Amer, but right now, there’s no guard who can mix up high scoring with precision passing leading to an assist. Only Sumang.

He reminds us of a collegiate Derrick Rose who knows only one thing: Drive. Hard. He misses a running mate to ease the pressure up top, but Red Warriors fans need worry no more. It’s too bad that Mario Bonleon decided to withdraw from the team with a week to go before their first game. Citing reasons unknown, what should’ve been a perfect sidekick for Sumang has gone to the rafters with a poof.

Imagine something like the budding pair of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. That’s what Bonleon had with Sumang. Oh well, moving on, the Warriors still retain JR Sumido who can shoot as well as anybody these days.

Big surprise there.

The Bad

Even if the Warriors and Boycie Zamar have former Red Cub Chris Javier manning the slot, there’s no help available for him. JM Noble is a swing guy. He’s no four.

That was then.

But now? Hello, Charles Mammie.

This guy is a monster that feeds off open looks from Roi Sumang and space from Chris Javier. He’s the answer to their post and paint woes. And he can serve it up real good.

One big bowl of Mammie please.

The Ugly

The bench.

That’s ugly. The Warriors, along with a slew of college hoop teams have thin to non-existent bench. Meaning, there’s no proven go-to scorer from the second unit and just a bunch of no-names raring to prove themselves to the nation.

There’s no Olan Omiping or Arnold Booker type of guys down the bench of Zamar, but eh, time to make a name for yourselves fellows.

Watch out for…

Mammie is a moot point. People know what they’ll be getting from him. Along with Sumang and Chris Javier.

It’s up to Noble or Sumido to be that pressure release for their Big Three. Consistent shooting is a must to keep defenses honest and refrain from packing the paint and parking that silly bus to prevent Sumang incursions, Javier stick-backs or Mammie power-overs.