By: Jonash Dannug
Justin Gutang and the College of Saint Benilde Blazers remain unbeaten after taking down the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in a heated-match, 80-73, in the first game of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup presented by Chooks-to-Go, Tuesday afternoon, at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Gutang spearheaded the Blazers’ victory with 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Clement Leutcheu displayed a double-double performance with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Edward Dixon added 12 points and four rebounds.
“Justin is really a diamond in the rough,” said Blazers head coach Ty Tang.
With Gutang, the Blazers now have someone to be the go-to-guy who can score in bunches, a type of player they lacked a couple of seasons ago.
“I think he’s already a made player. There’s nothing much to work on him except his attitude and character towards the game. But in terms of his skillset and athleticism, I think he’s already ready to play this NCAA or even, I don’t know maybe one day he can be part of Gilas,” Tang explained, while giving praise to his prized recruit.
Arvin Tolentino led the Tamaraws with 16 points and nine rebounds in a game that saw him exchange heated words with CSB’s Gutang and Dixon. Wendell Comboy added 10 points, four assists, and four rebounds.
Playing their first game of the tournament, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons took down the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, 83-80, in the third game of the day.
Sean Manganti led the way for the Falcons after scoring 20 points on 80 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Papi Sarr notched 13 points and eight boards, while Jerrick Ahanmisi added nine points.
For the Knights, Bong Quinto topped the scoring with 24 markers and 11 rebounds. JP Calvo added 17 points while Jeo Ambohot had 12. Letran suffered their second loss in the tournament, falling to a 2-2 standing in Group B.
With their student-athletes tied up with academic commitments, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers were able to utilize their 10-man squad to grab their first win in the tournament, as they trounced the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 98-88, in the second game of the afternoon.
Renzo Subido led all scorers with 24, while Kenneth Zamora and Enrique Caunan had 13 apiece. The Tigers, who only fielded in 10 players in the game, had seven players in double figures.
Darius Estrella paced the Heavy Bombers, who now fall to the bottom of group B with a 0-4 card, with 22 points. Jarvy Ramos scored 12 points, while Ry Dela Rosa added 10.
The Scores:
First Game:
CSB (80) – Gutang 27, Leutcheu 13, Dixon 12, Naboa 9, Haruna 7, Pasturan 5, Domingo 4, Carlos 3, Young 0, Belgica 0, Velasco 0, Pagulayan 0
FEU (73) – Tolentino 16, Comboy 10, Tuffin 9, Ebona 8, Cani 7, Escoto 5, Bayquin 5, Orizu 4, Parker 3, Inigo 3, Bienes 3, Ramirez 0, Nunag 0, Stockton 0
Quarterscores: 22-17, 38-39, 56-57, 80-73
Second Game:
UST (98) – Subido 24, Zamora 13, Caunan 13, Cosejo 13, Lee 12, Cansino 12, Huang 10, Marcos 1, Agustin 0, Lagumen 0
JRU (88) – Estrella 22, Ramos 12, Dela Rosa 10, Dela Virgen 9, Bordon 8, Perez 7, Padua 5, Mendoza 4, Silvarez 4, Steinl 4, Esguerra 3, Dulalia 0, Butcon 0
Quarterscores: 22-22, 45-37, 76-58, 98-88
Third Game:
AdU (83) – Manganti 20, Sarr 13, Ahanmisi 11, Magbuhos 8, Lastimosa 7, Espleta 6, Catapusan 6, Colonia 5, Mojica 5, Bernardo 2, Pingoy 0, Zaldivar 0, Macion 0, Camacho 0, Orquez 0
CSJL (80) – Quinto 24, Calvo 17, Balanza 12, Ambohot 12, Batiller 11, Muyang 4, Balagasay 0, Agbong 0, Taladua 0, Celis 0, Banes 0, Yu 0, Pambid 0
Quarterscores: 19-21, 35-42, 59-60, 83-80.
