By: Jonash Dannug
After taking a loss from the NCAA Champions San Beda Red Lions last Monday, the De La Salle University Green Archers vented their frustrations on the National University Bulldogs, 73-66, in the 12th Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup presented by Chooks-to-Go, Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Green Archers were in the driver’s seat for the initial part of the match, only for Enzo Joson to get fouled and drain both his freebies, giving NU their first lead of the game, 45-43, and making the contest interesting.
With the Bulldogs leading at the start of the fourth canto, Aljun Melecio spearheaded La Salle’s attack, scoring five in a 10-4 run that returned the advantage to La Salle. Melecio was 2-of-15 from the field before the run.
John Galinato tried to keep NU afloat after hitting a trey with 1:49 remaining, 65-62. However, in the next possession, Jolo Go and Taane Samuel scored consecutive two-pointers to give La Salle a comfortable seven-point cushion in the final minute of the game.
Even if his top-gunner had started sluggishly, La Salle head coach Louie Gonzales still commended him for setting the table for the Archers and keeping everyone involved.
“Aljun is still Aljun, hindi ko naman tatanggalin sa bata ‘yun eh. What’s good with the kid, ‘yung mga misses niya those are hindi niya rhythm eh, hindi pa niya nakukuha ‘yung rhythm kasi mas maganda doon sa bata na ‘yun, pinipilit niya to make everybody involved,” he said.
Justin Baltazar paced the Archers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while his frontcourt partner Leo Santillan added 16 points and 12 boards. Melecio finished with 10 points on 4-of-18 shooting from the field to commandeer La Salle to a 6-1 card.
John Clemente was the only one in double figures for the Bulldogs scoring 13 points on 3-of-3 shooting from rainbow distance. NU suffered their fifth defeat, garnering a record of 3-5 in the group A.
The Lyceum University of the Philippines trashed the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 89-68, in the main event of the evening.
Up by seven points in the fourth quarter, Ralph Tansingco drained back to back three-pointers to further bury the Tamaraws, 67-54. From there, the Marcelino twins took over and blasted a 9-0 run strengthening their lead, 80-57.
Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino fired 15 and 14 points respectively, while Cj Perez and Jesper Ayaay added 12 and 10, as the Pirates bid goodbye to their playoff hopes.
Barkley Ebona topscored the Tamaraws with 11 points, while Lj Gonzales added 10 points. FEU dropped to a 6-2 standing in Group B.
With the University of the East Red Warriors playing without their main personnel, the San Beda University Red Lions took advantage and handed them a 23-point beating, 73-50.
San Beda was led by Calvin Oftana with 14 points, while Gilas Cadet Kenmark Carino added nine points and six rebounds to lift the Red Lions to 5-2, good for third place in group A.
Head coach Boyet Fernandez took advantage of the situation and used his whole arsenal, giving all of his players almost 10 minutes each.
The Red Warriors – who played without Alvin Pasaol, Jason Strait, Chris Conner, Reymark Acuno and head coach Joe Silva – saw seldom-used players Jan Sobrevega and former Red Robin Brian Lacap step up for UE as they scored 13 and 12 respectively, in a losing effort.
General manager Lawrence Chongson handled the coaching duties for UE, who fell to 3-6.
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights bounced back from a tough last Friday at the hands of the College of St. Benilde, and defeated the Arellano University Chiefs, 71-63, clinching the fourth quarterfinal slot in group B.
Bong Quinto dominated the fourth quarter scoring 12 of his 18 points for Letran. Jerrick Balanza and Christian Fajarito contributed 11 points apiece, while JP Calvo finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat in seven games, and were led by Ellie Ongolo Ongolo, who played his best outing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Ongolo was the only player who finished in double figures for the Chiefs.
After a disappointing campaign that saw them lose six games in eight outings, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas found a gem in these rough times in the form of Jielo Razon, who spearheaded their attach as they dismantled the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 83-63, in the first game of the afternoon.
First year player Razon fired 18 points and five rebounds to help the Altas finish their game with a win.
Tonton Peralta scored 13 points and seven rebounds while Nigerian student-athlete Prince Eze finished with a double-double of 11 points and 17 boards.
The Emilio Aguinaldo College gathered their seventh loss and remained winless in the preseason cup.
Robin Vincent and Jerome Garcia are the only players in double figures for the Generals, scoring 18 and 15 respectively.
Meanwhile, in the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt, St. Benilde’s Prince Carlos advanced to the championship round after defeating Mapua’s Eric Jabel, 15-6.
Carlos will face Jeremiah Taladua of the Letran Knights in the finals.
The Scores:
First game:
UPHSD (83) – Razon 18, Peralta 15, Aurin 13, Eze 11, Cuevas 9, Mangalino 8, Coronel 5, Charcos 4, Tamayo 0, Soriano 0
EAC (67) – Robin 18, Garcia 15, Diego 8, Tampoc 7, Bugarin 7, Maguliano 5, Fuentes 4, Cadua 2, Altamirano 1, Mendoza 0, Estacio 0, Gonzales 0, Neri 0, Corilla 0, Martin 0, Ling 0
Quarterscores: 21-11, 42-31, 65-44, 83-67
Second game:
CSJL (71) – Quinto 18, Balanza 11, Fajarito 11, Calvo 10, Batiller 7, Muyang 6, Ambohot 4, Agbong 2, Balagasay 2, Yu 0, Taladua 0, Mandreza 0, Celis 0, Banes 0
AU (63) – Ongolo Ongolo 13, Concepcion 8, Canete 7, Meca 7, Dela Cruz 6, Abanes 5, Abdurasad 4, Alcoriza 4, Codinera 3, Chavez 2, Santos 2, Dumagan 2, Sera Josef 0, Bayla 0, Labarda 0
Quarterscores: 17-17, 31-31, 49-46, 71-63
Third game:
SBU (73) – Oftana 14, Carino 9, Soberano 8, Doliguez 7, Mocon 6, Cabanag 6, Tankoua 5, Bolick 4, Eugene 4, Presbitero 3, Nelle 3, Burri 2, Cuntapay 0, Tongco 0
UE (50) – Sobrevega 13, Lacap 12, Manalang 9, Gallardo 6, Toribio 5, Bartolome 5, Dimayuga 0, Manalang 0, Guion 0
Quarterscores: 13-15, 35-32, 60-45, 73-50
Fourth game:
DLSU (73) – Baltazar 19, Santillan 16, Melecio 10, Samuel 8, Lim 6, Capacio 5, Dyke 4, Caracut 3, Go 2, Bates 0, Manuel 0
NU (66) – Clemente 16, D. Ildefonso 10, Gallego 7, S. Ildefonso 6, Aquino 6, Sinclair 5, Galinato 5, Yu 4, Joson 2, Gaye 2, Mangayaom 2, Tibayan 1, Mosqueda 0, Salim Diputado 0
Quarterscores: 15-14, 34-34, 46-50, 73-66
Fifth game:
LPU (89) – Jc. Marcelino 15, Jv. Marcelino 14, Perez 12, Ayaay 10 Tansingco 8, Yong 5, Caduyac 5, Pericas 5, Ibanes 4, Remulla 4, Pretta 3, Serrano 2, Mahinay 2, Guinto 0
FEU (68) – Ebona 11, Gonzales 10, Tolentino 8, Nunag 8, Parker 5, Cani 4, Bienes 4, Inigo 4, Tuffin 3, Escoto 3, Ramirez 2, Stockton 2, Casino 2, Bayquin 2, Alas 0, Flores 0
Quarterscores: 16-17, 36-33, 58-49, 89-68
