It was a busy Sunday in the second day of the 2018 FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup presented by Chooks-to-Go at the FilOil Flying V Centre, with the biggest win of the day coming from last year’s champions San Beda University Red Lions.
The reigning kings stopped the late comeback attempt of the National University Bulldogs and started their title-retention campaign on a high note, 71-61.
The Red Lions pulled away late in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead at the half, an advantage which they never relinquished up to the end of the match. The Bulldogs tried to keep in step with the Legarda-based squad, as the former capitalized on the latter’s turnovers to cut the deficit down to four at 61-65 off an explosive drive from returning player JV Gallego.
Nonetheless, that turned out to be NU’s last bark, as Javee Mocon and the San Beda defense too over the game and ended the match on a 6-0 run.
Mocon finished with 12 points and three rebounds, but it was also a great showing from incoming senior JP Bahio with 10 markers and five rebounds that helped pave the way for the win.
San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez shared that he definitely wants to use as many players as possible to give them ample exposure to in-game situations in preparation for the NCAA. He also said, “For the past few weeks, we have been concentrating on our individual defense. We don’t have much scrimmages, because we’re trying to achieve more on the skills of the players.”
In the first three games, the Mapua University Cardinals, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights also registered their respective first victories earlier in the day.
The Cardinals used overall team defense to stun the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 79-78, and doomed the latter to another heartbreaking loss.
Graduating guard Exe Biteng led the Intramuros-based side with 19 points in 24 minutes of action, while incoming rookie Eric Jabel turned in 13 points. On the other hand, Bright Akhuetie came alive for the Maroons with 30 points and 28 rebounds.
Hubert Cani put in 15 points in 15 minutes of play along with three assists to steer the Tamaraws over the Arellano University Chiefs at 74-65. And in the penultimate game, Bong Quinto put out a great offensive showing at 22 points and nine assists to pace the Knights to a 95-90 win over the Renzo Subido-led Growling Tigers.
The Scores:
First Game
MU 79 — Biteng 19, Jabel 13, Victoria 12, Serrano 8, Salenga 8, Bonifacio 7, Pelayo 5, Pajarillo 3, Bunag 2, Lugo 2, Aguirre 0, Garcia 0.
UP 78 — Akhuetie 30, Desiderio 13, Ju. Gomez de Liaño 12, Murrell 9, Lim 4, Gozum 4, Manzo 3, Vito 2, Ja. Gomez de Liaño 1, Jaboneta 0, Dario 0, Longa 0.
Quarterscores: 19-15, 35-32, 55-56, 79-78.
Second Game
FEU 74 — Cani 15, Bienes 10, Escoto 10, Comboy 8, Stockton 7, Eboña 6, Iñigo 4, Tolentino 3, Casino 2, Gonzales 2, Jopia 2, Nunag 2, Tuffin 2, Alas 1, Bayquin 0, Flores 0, Parker 0, Ramirez 0.
AU 65 — Dela Torre 15, Sera Josef 15, Cañete 14, Meca 6, Dela Cruz 5, Chavez 4, Abanes 2, Bayla 2, Sacramento 2, Abdurasad 0, Alban 0, Codiñera 0, Labarda 0, Pineda 0, Segura 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 47-24, 61-47, 74-65.
Third Game
CSJL 95 – Quinto 22, Muyang 17, Balanza 17, Fajarito 12, Calvo 6, Batiller 6, Balagasay 4, Celis 4, Agbong 3, Taladua 2, Mandreza 2, Yu 0, Ibanes 0, Ambohot 0, Galvelo 0.
UST 90 – Basibas 16, Huang 15, Subido 14, Zamora 13, Lee 8, Agustin 8, Cansino 5, Caunan 4, Bataller 3, Sta. Ana 2, Marcos 2.
Quarterscores: 14-15, 40-38, 67-56, 95-90.
Fourth Game
SBU 71 – Mocon 12, Bahio 10, Tankoua 9, Canlas 9, Nelle 7, Soberano 6, Abuda 4, Oftana 4, Carino 4, Presbitero 2, Cuntapay 2, Eugene 2, Tomgco 0, Doliguez 0, Cabanag 0.
NU 61 – Clemente 13, Ildefonso D 10, Gaye 9, Gallego 6, Aquino 6, Diputado 5, Menina 4, Ildefonso S 2, Galinato 2, Tibayan 2, Mosqueda 0, Yu 0, Mangayaom 0, Oczon 0.
Quarterscores: 14-12, 37-30, 55-48, 71-61.
