Mason Amos delivered a stellar 20-point performance, propelling De La Salle University to a convincing 83-70 victory over University of the Philippines in the PGFlex Linoleum Invitational Tournament Final on Thursday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Fresh off a 19-point outing in La Salle’s 90-63 semifinal rout of the Olivarez College Sea Lions, the 6-foot-7 Amos continued his strong form by sinking four three-pointers, most of which fueled early offensive runs.
His contributions didn’t stop there – he hauled down 11 rebounds, dished out three assists, and was crowned Final MVP for his exceptional all-around performance.
La Salle’s triumph in the preseason tournament offers a morale boost for the Green Archers, who will face the Fighting Maroons in the UAAP title series starting Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers came out firing, with Amos teaming up with Santi Romero, Bright Nwankwo, and Russel Ogana to build a commanding 14-3 lead in the opening quarter.
That cushion grew to as many as 17 points in the second period, showcasing their offensive depth and defensive tenacity.
UP played without its top scorer Rey Remogat, making La Salle’s task more manageable.
The Green Archers capitalized on the advantage, with Nwankwo and Ogana chipping in 18 and 17 points, respectively.
While Jacob Cortez managed just six points in 33 minutes, he orchestrated La Salle’s offense masterfully, guiding a system that netted 44 points in the paint and 15 from fastbreak opportunities.
In the battle for third place, reigning UCAL champion Centro Escolar University outlasted Olivarez College, 80-66, to conclude the tournament.
