Even without three of their key players, the league-leading Far Eastern University Tamaraws were able to keep their slate in the 2018 SMART City Hoops 25-Under Summer Classic unblemished after picking up a 70-63 wire-to-wire win over the debuting College of Saint Benilde Blazers, Saturday afternoon.
“As I said, it’s our next man up approach,” said second-year Tamaraws head coach Olsen Racela. “This time, it was [Richard] Escoto and [RJ] Ramirez.”
Escoto towed FEU with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals while Ramirez chipped in 10 markers. Their production was badly needed as the Tamaraws missed the services of Arvin Tolentino, Kenneth Tuffin, and Prince Orizu due to them serving their respective national team duties.
FEU led by as much as 17 points, 30-13, during the second frame. Benilde was able to slice the lead down to just two, 56-54, after back-to-back conversions by RR Pagulayan and Jojo Antiporda. A triple by Axel Inigo though doused the fiery rally of the Blazers.
Pagulayan paced the Blazers with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
In the first game, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights survived a valiant stand by the B squad of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, coming out with an 86-78 win.
With the win, Letran is now 1-2 while Lyceum, whose Team A squad is still playing in the PBA D-League, fell to 0-3.
“Goal namin is to enter the quarters pero siyempre yung pinakaimportante sa aming yung ma-develop yung familiarity with one another mas lalo ngayon na ang daming bago,” said third-year Knights head coach Jeff Napa. “That is why we joined a lot of pre-season tournament para ma-break in yung mga transferees at mga rookies namin with our veterans.”
With senior swingman Bong Quinto still resting, it was JP Calvo who steered Letran to its first win in this tournament presented by Chooks-to-Go. The fourth-year guard finished with 14 markers, four boards, and four dimes. Moreover, it was Calvo who stopped the bleeding for the Knights in the final frame.
Letran led by as much as 15 points, 71-56, in the final frame. But the troika of Rhanzelle Yong, Renzo Navarro, and Archie Salo did not allow the Pirates to go down without a fight, sparking a furious rally to cut the lead to just four, 81-77, with 1:20 left.
Calvo though calmly weaved through the trapping defense of the Pirates before sinking a lay-up with 38.3 ticks remaining to seal the victory.
Rookie EJ Agbong and Jerrick Balanza chipped in 12 points each for Letran.
Yong, a former San Sebastian Golden Stag, paced Lyceum with 19 points and seven rebounds. Fellow former Stag Renzo Navarro added 11 points.
Transferee John Apacible also played his first game with Lyceum, finishing with four points, six rebounds, and two blocks in just 15 minutes of game time.
On Wednesday, the Pirates will go up against the 0-1 Ateneo Blue Eagles at 3:00pm. The 2-0 UP Fighting Maroons will then face the Blazers at 4:30pm.
The Scores:
First Game:
CSJL 86 – Calvo 14, Agbong 12, Balanza 12, Fajarito 9, Balagasay 8, Ambohot 7, Celis 6, Muyang 6, Galvelo 5, Yu 3, Batiller 3, Mandreza 1, Taladua 0, Luciano 0, Ibanez 0.
LPU 78 – Yong 19, Navarro 11, Salo 10, Pericas 8, Remulla 7, Garing 7, Guinto 6, Apacible 4, Mahinay 2, Barbero 2, Valencia 2, Japzon 0, Liwag 0, Bautista 0.
Quarterscores: 22-14, 38-37, 64-52, 86-78.
Second Game:
FEU 70 – Escoto 12, Ramirez 10, Bienes 9, Bayquin 8, Inigo 6, Alas 6, Gonzales 5, Parker 4, Ebona 3, Tempre 2, Tchuente 2, Clifford 0, Stockton 0, Nunag 0.
CSB 63 – Pagulayan 13, Carlos 10, Flores 10, Miranda 8, Belgica 4, Ocampo 2, Barnes 2, Pili 2, Pangalanan 0, San Juan 0.
Quarterscores: 13-11, 32-20, 48-37, 70-63.
