Hubert Cani, FEU topple fancied La Salle to book Final Four ticket

By Ohmer Bautista

With the odds stacked against them in a furious knockout game, Hubert Cani and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws responded with a stunner against the  De La Salle University Green Archers, 76-69, in the 12th Filoil Flying V Premier Preseason Cup. presented by Chooks-to-Go at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Up by six coming into the fourth frame, 52-46, the Tamaraws saw their lead evaporate after the Archers uncorked a 13-2 blitz, 59-54.

However, FEU reclaimed the lead after mustering a 7-0, 61-59. But a 6-2 spurt, capped by an Aljun Melecio trey gave the Archers a two point gap, 65-63. From that point onward, Cani did his magic and took over with aplomb, scoring 10 of the last 12 of FEU, including back-to-back step back jumpers in the dying minutes of to game to ultimately seal the fate of the Tamaraws.

Cani finished with 22 points on 80 percent shooting from the field.

“Mindset ko ay gusto ko talaga manalo,” Cani bared. “Iniisip ko lang na stick pa rin sa system.”

After the win, FEU head coach Olsen Racela relishes the golden opportunity that preseason tourneys provides for his team approaching the UAAP season.

“I told them earlier, preseason is an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves for the UAAP season,” the second year coach stated. “Winning is just bonus.”

Gilas cadet Arvin Tolentino and Prince Orizu added 10 markers each.

Meanwhile, Andrei Caracut paced the Archers with 15. Melecio, Justine Baltazar, and Kira Samuel added 14 apiece and 12 markers respectively.

With the win, the Tamaraws successfully books a ticket to the semifinals. They will face either the Ateneo Blue Eagles or the Letran Knights tomorrow, June 29.

The Scores:

FEU 76 – Cani 22, Orizu 10, Tolentino 10, Comboy 6, Eboña 6, Escoto 6, Tuffin 6, Iñigo 3, Stockton 3, Gonzales 2, Parker 2, Jopia 0, Nunag 0, Ramirez 0.

DLSU 69 – Caracut 15, Baltazar 14, Melecio 14, Samuel 12, Dyke 6, Go 6, Manuel 2, Bates 0, Capacio 0, Corteza 0, Herrera 0, Lim 0, Manaytay 0.

Quarterscores: 15-11, 35-27, 52-46, 76-69.