CJ Cansino was back like he never left.
Playing in his first game since Game 3 of the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Finals, Cansino produced a stellar line in University of the Philippines’ 91-75 whipping of Far Eastern University to close out the opening day of the 2023 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup on Sunday in San Juan.
The Fighting Maroons captain tallied 11 points, two assists, and a rebound in just 10 minutes of game time.
Fellow seniors JD Cagulangan and Malick Diouf also delivered. The former led the way with 14 points, while the latter added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Francis Lopez got 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals as well.
“As we build towards nitong next few months… As we prepare for the next UAAP Season [86] – obviously a win is a win, and it’s always nice, but that’s not really the main focus,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
The man was subbing in for Goldwin Monteverde, who is in the Fil-Am Nation Select Basketball showcase in Las Vegas.
FEU was playing without floor leaders L-Jay Gonzales and Royce Alforque. In their place, Xyrus Torres stepped up with 19 points built on five treys.
“Let’s not forget also that FEU is missing two key players, tulad ni [Royce] Alforque and [L-Jay] Gonzales. So obviously this was not a team that was full force today. But on our end, we’re just looking forward to continue to build, especially after this first game,” added Luanzon.
In the other UAAP group game, Joem Sabandal spearheaded the charge for the Jerom Lastimosa and Nash Racela-less Soaring Falcons in their 75-64 rout of St. Clare College.
The fourth-year guard scored 19 points, five coming in a 17-3 second-quarter spurt that erased the Saints’ eight-point lead from the first quarter. St. Clare regained a one-point edge early in the third, before Sabandal fired 10 points to detonate a 20-4 blast for a 55-40 Adamson advantage late in the frame.
Vince Magbuhos backstopped Sabandal with a 12-point, 10-assist double-double. Cedrick Manzano contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
Ryan Sual had 13 points for the Saints, who are making their return to this tournament that is backed by Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Akari, Reyes BBQ, BDO, Kalos Sportswear, and Molten.
Meanwhile, Paeng Are shot San Sebastian College-Recoletos and new head coach John Kallos to a 94-84 come-from-behind triumph over NCAA finalist College of St. Benilde.
The pint-sized playmaker caught fire in the endgame. He scored 10 points in the Golden Stags’ 22-4 charge from a 72-76 deficit with under seven minutes to go to a 94-80 lead with 22 ticks left. He wound up with 20 points on top of 10 rebounds and three steals.
Are was flanked by backcourt-mate Alex Desoyo who had 19 points, six assists, and three rebounds to help San Sebastian rise from a 10-point halftime deficit all the way to a 1-0 standing in Group 1.
The Blazers, playing without Season 98 MVP Will Gozum, were led by 19 points from Miggy Corteza in their tournament debut.
On the other hand, the Altas weathered a late storm by Clint Escamis and Mapua University for a 69-67 decision.
Mark Omega posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and led Perpetual in withstanding a 4-0 burst in the last minute by the Cardinals.
The Cardinals tripped to begin their campaign despite the best efforts of Escamis – who had 17 points, five rebounds, five steals, and four assists in his first game back in red-and-gold.
The Scores:
First Game:
Perpetual 69 – Roque 18, Omega 12, Pagaran 12, Abis 8, Nitura 7, Razon 6, Ramirez 3, Ferreras 2, Nunez 1, Sevilla 0, Barcuma 0, Movida 0, Boral 0, Gelsano 0
Mapua 67 – Escamis 17, Bonifacio 12, Hernandez 9, Cuenco 7, Recto 7, Soriano 6, Garcia 5, Igliane 2, Dalisay 2, Agustin 0, Fornis 0, Rivera 0
Quarterscores: 17-16, 34-34, 56-55, 69-67
Second Game:
Adamson 75 – Sabandal 19, Magbuhos 12, Manzano 10, Erolon 9, Barasi 5, Colonia 4, Ramos 4, Yerro 3, Anabo 3, Montebon 2, Barcelona 2, Canete 2, Ignacio 0
St. Clare 64 – Sual 13, Estrada 12, Estacio 11, Galang 10, Kane 7, Decano 5, Ndong 2, Tapenio 2, Acosta 2, Lopez 0, Angeles 0
Quarterscores: 11-19, 33-34, 57-44, 75-64
Third Game:
San Sebastian 94 – Are 20, Desoyo 19, RA Gabat 16, Shanoda 9, Felebrico 7, Una 5, Barroga 4, Castor 3, Suico 3, Concha 3, Aguilar 2, Velasco 2, RL Gabat 1, Pascual 0, De Leon 0
Saint Benilde 84 – Corteza 19, Sangco 12, Oczon 9, Nayve 7, Turco 7, Marasigan 7, Dimayuga 7, Marcos 5, Carlos 4, Jarque 3, Lepalam 3, Arciaga 1, Cajucom 0, Serrano 0
Quarterscores: 21-22, 33-43, 64-66, 94-84
Fourth Game:
UP 91 – Cagulangan 14, Lopez 14, Alarcon 12, Cansino 11, Diouf 10, Felicilda 9, Briones 7, Torres 5, Abadiano 4, Torculas 3, Pablo 2, Gagate 0, Andres 0, Belmonte 0
FEU 75 – Torres 19, Anonuevo 11, Taburnal 11, Sleat 7, Pasaol 7, Faty 6, Tempra 6, Bagunu 4, Ona 2, Montemayor 2, Buenaventura 0, Felipe 0, Macapagal 0
Quarterscores: 27-14, 51-37, 72-60, 91-75
