John Galinato kept his nerves in check as he lifted National University past Adamson University in overtime, 71-70, in the 2022 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup semifinals, Thursday afternoon in San Juan City.
With 1.2 seconds left in the overtime period, Galinato was fouled by Adamson’s Joshua Yerro. The Chiang Kai Shek alumnus then made three free throws to give the Bulldogs a one-point lead.
With one second to spare after the Soaring Falcons timeout, Joem Sabandal attempted a triple but missed.
“Pinapractice naman ng player yun eh. May talent siya [Galinato], so ginagawa niya lang yung pinapractice niya, kahit sa practice namin. Yung pinapractice niya kahit papa no nag-bunga,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa. “At least napunta dun as pinaka-best free throw shooter namin yung bola.”
Galinato dropped a game-high 23 points along with three rebounds and three assists.
Down 57-63 in the fourth period, the Bulldogs uncorked a 5-0 run to cut down the deficit by one, 62-63, then capped by Omar John’s split free throw to tie it to 63-all to force overtime.
At the start of overtime, Didat Hanapi answered back five of his seven points to gain a 65-68 advantage. John Lloyd Clemente, though, shot in three given freebies to the tie game again to 68 with 2:07 left in the contest.
Cedrick Colonia rebounded the ball off a Clemente missed triple with 56 seconds left, and then drove a layup to get the lead by two, 70-68.
Clemente willed NU with 14 points, four rebounds, three dimes, and three steals, while LA Casinillo topped the board with seven to go with four points and an assist.
NU’s Steve Nash Enriquez was not fielded in the game.
Cedrick Manzano is the lone double-digit scorer of the Soaring Falcons finishing with 15 points and seven boards. Lenda Douanaga topped Adamson’s rebounding department with eight and six markers.
Jerome Lastimosa only played in the first half of the game because of a case of the flu.
This is NU’s third finals appearance in the preseason cup, while they were champions in 2012 and runner-up in 2013.
If De La Salle University wins its match later against Far Eastern University it will be a rematch of the 2012 finals.
The Scores:
NU 71 — Galinato 23, Clemente 14, Figueroa 6, Yu 6, Malonzo 5, John 4, Casinillo 4, Minerva 3, Manansala 2, Tibayan 2, Mahinay 2, Padrones 0, Palacielo 0.
Adamson 70 — Manzano 15, Sabandal 7, Hanapi 7, Douanga 6, Flowers 6, Erolon 6, Lastimosa 6, V. Magbuhos 5, Yerro 5, Jaymalin 5, Colonia 2, Barasi 0, Torres 0, Maata 0, Dignadice 0.
Quarterscores: 14-6, 28-27, 42-53, 63-63, 71-70.
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The entire 2022 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup will stream LIVE on Smart Sports Facebook page
