By: Jonash Dannug
Philip Manalang and the University of the East Red Warriors scored an impressive victory as they handed the Mapua University Cardinals their first loss of the tournament, 92-84, in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup presented by Chooks-to-Go, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the first three quarters, with both teams exchanging baskets back and forth. However, Alvin Pasaol and Manalang drained back-to-back three pointers in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to separate themselves from the scrappy Cardinals, 73-67.
“He’s one of our veterans; he’s one of our captains, so we expect a lot from him. The problem is he can’t do it alone. Him and Alvin cannot do it alone,” pointed out UE head coach Joe Silva about his team’s co-captains.
Manalang poured 14 of his 20 big points in the final frame to help UE collect their second win of the tournament. Alvin Pasaol scored 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Mark Maloles added 11.
Lawrence Victoria led Mapua with 17 points, while rookie Warren Bonifacio added 16 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.
After losing their first three games of the tournament, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons turned their fortunes around with their fourth consecutive victory, this time against the cellar-dweller Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 83-70, in the first game of the evening.
Down by 22 points in the third quarter, the Generals opened the final frame with a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to 11, 70-59. However, the duo of Paul Desiderio and Will Gozum poured in 13 points combined to deny the Generals their first win in the preseason cup.
Javi Gomez de Liano led all scorers with 21 points, including an impressive 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Desiderio notched 16 markers while Gozum added 12 points.
JP Maguliano paced the Generals with 15 and 10 boards, while Rustan Bugarin added 12 markers for EAC, who are still winless in the tournament.
Papi Sarr and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons fended off the scrappy Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 74-67, in the second game of the evening.
Papi Sarr finished the game with 16 points and 10 boards in only 17 minutes. Sean Manganti scored nine points, while Vince Magbuhos added seven points and 12 rebounds to help Adamson collect their fourth win in the tournament.
Jed Mendoza fired 20 points and dished seven assists for the Bombers, who fell into abyss after absorbing their seventh loss in the tournament.
Bong Quinto steered the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights to their second straight victory against the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags, 81-73, in the final game of the evening.
Quinto led all scorers with 23 markers, while Jerrick Balanza added 15. JP Calvo notched 13 points and four assists to help propel the Knights to a 4-2 standing in Group B.
RK Ilagan had 19 points and four rebounds for the Stags, who fell to 3-2. Allyn Bulanadi scored 13 points, while Michael Calisaan and Alvin Capobres had 10 apiece.
Letran’s Bonbon Batiller won against DLSU’s Miguel Corteza, 9-5, in the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt to advance to the next round.
The Scores:
First Game:
UP (83) – Ja. Gomez de Liano 21, Desiderio 16, Gozum 12, Manzo 12, Tungcab 8, Prado 7, Vito 4, Longa 3, Lim 0, Santiago 0, Espanola 0
EAC (70) – Maguliano 15, Bugarin 12, Mendoza 8, Neri 7, Bautista 5, Robin 4, Fuentes 4, Garcia 4, Tampoc 4, Natividad 3, Diego 2, Martin 2, Altamirano 0, Gonzales 0, Cadua 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, Umali 0, Ling 0
Quarterscores: 19-8, 44-21, 70-48, 83-70
Second Game:
AdU (74) – Sarr 16, Manganti 9, Magbuhos 7, Espleta 7, Catapusan 7, Lastimosa 6, Camacho 6, Colonia 5, Mojica 5, Ahanmisi 4, Zaldivar 2, Bernardo 0
JRU (67) – Mendoza 20, Dela Virgen 12, Padua 11, Silvarez 4, Estrella 4, Dela Rosa 3, Mallari 3, David 3, Ramos 2, Bordon 2, Steinl 2, Esguerra 1, De Guzman 0
Quarterscores: 26-12, 31-31, 54-46, 74-67
Third Game:
UE (92) – Pasaol 24, Manalang 20, Maloles 11, Conner 8, Acuno 7, Bartolome 6, Antiporda 6, Gagate 4, Varilla 3, Gallardo 2, Strait 1, Lacap 0, Beltran 0, Dimayuga 0, Sobrevega 0, Manalang 0
MU (84) – Victoria 17, Bonifacio 16, Lugo 10, Aguirre 10, Gamboa 8, Salenga 7, Pelayo 4, Serrano 4, Pajarillo 3, Jabel 2, Bunag 2, Biteng 1, Garcia 0
Quarterscores: 19-19, 39-47, 63-61, 92-84
Fourth Game:
CSJL (81) – Quinto 23, Balanza 15, Calvo 13, Ambohot 9, Fajarito 7, Batiller 5, Mandreza 3, Agbong 3, Galvelo 3, Celis 0, Balagasay 0, Yu 0
SSC-R (73) – Ilagan 19, Bulanadi 13, Calisaan 10, Capobres 10, Dela Cruz 8, Calma 6, Valdez 4, Desoyo 2, Costelo 1, Sumoda 0, Vinte 0, Isidro 0
Quarterscores: 25-12, 42-29, 61-56, 81-73
