MANILA -- University of the East (UE) is in the Final Four for the 12th time since the format was introduced in 1994.

The Recto-based school is tied with Far Eastern University (FEU) for the second most number of appearances in the Final Four next to La Salle’s 14.

But playoff success has eluded UE in those previous 11 tries. Heartbreaking losses and monumental collapses have defined the Red Warriors’ Final Four resume.

Now on its 12th stint, UE’s rookie mentor Lawrence Chongson has been doing everything to reverse the tide and finally end the title drought.

And these include 'unique' things, which other teams have not yet done in the past.

Out of town trip before playoffs

Recently, the whole team just came back from Cebu, a fitting reward for its six-game win run, its longest since sweeping the eliminations in 2007.

It’s unprecedented in the UAAP to have such a trip just a week before the playoffs. But Chongson quickly dismissed it was not a vacation trip.

“It’s a team-building session for us where we would also play a Cebu-based commercial team in a tune-up game. It’s far from an R&R activity,” Chongson said moments after disposing fourth ranked University of Sto. Tomas in last week’s eliminations.

“Actually, Macau should be our destination but since wala pang passports ang ibang players namin at wala naman kaming makakalaban dun na team, we decided to go to Cebu na lang,” Chongson added.

But instead of the Liga Pilipinas’ Mandaue Landmasters as earlier planned, UE faced University of San Carlos.

The Warriors coasted to a 67-60 win over USC, which is one of the stronger teams in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI).

Chongson recounted to uaapsports.com that he limited his starting five to 10 minutes each, playing them sparingly to avoid injuries.

Underrated defense

Chongson’s uncanny style of handling the team has been throwing off the experts. But he’s been doing wonders at the post and seemed to have rub off his “anything goes” and laidback persona to the team.

At first glance, UE could be dismissed as just a mere the title pretender because of its free-flowing offensive game. But what is invisible to the naked eye is the Warriors’ underrated defense.

After 14 games in the eliminations, UE may only be no. 5 in points allowed (69.6) but came in third in Field Goal percentage allowed (37.3 percent), overtaking FEU, which is at the fourth spot (37.9 percent).

In their six-game winning run towards the Final Four, the Warriors have limited their opponents to just 64.8-point average and have posted a winning margin of 8.7 points including a 15-point win over FEU, 87-72.

FEU and Barroca

The Warriors will again meet the Tamaraws on Saturday to open the Final Four wars. Although FEU enjoys the twice to beat advantage, it might play without its star player Andy Barroca.

With FEU embroiled in a “game-fixing allegations” issue on Barroca, Chongson is not perturbed.

“Honestly, I don’t believe that FEU could resist not playing (Andy) Barroca tomorrow (Saturday). We prepared hard for an FEU team with Barroca. I will not allow their (FEU’s) distraction to distract us,” said Chongson via text message.

With or without Barroca, expect UE to go for an early kill to force a sudden death match on Thursday.

“We’ll beat them (FEU) twice if that’s what it takes for us to win the title,” Chongson confidently said. By Alder T. Almo