Continuing to ride their momentum, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons showed that they can keep up with the big boys, stunning reigning NCAA champions San Beda University Red Lions, 56-54, Friday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
“Ang emphasis lang naman is when you go up against a champion team, a team that just came from a training camp in the us, we all know that there confidence is very high. I just challenged them,” said third-year Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol.
With the win, UP end their elimination round campaign in the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, presented by Chooks-to-Go, with a 6-3 record. They await their fate as Mapua and San Beda lag behind in games played in Group A.
San Beda led by as much as eight points, 52-44, entering the last five minutes of the game. UP were able to keep calm, rallying back with a 11-2 run capped by a Javi Gomez de Liano putback, to give the Fighting Maroons a 55-54 lead with 18.5 ticks left.
The Red Lions had a chance but Robert Bolick, who is playing in his first game of the tournament, tried to make a kickout pass after a drive. His pass resulted in the ball bouncing off Joe Presbitero’s foot. A split on the stripe by Diego Dario sealed the win.
“How are we going to beat a champion team? We just agreed to play defense,” added Perasol.
Gomez de Liano finished with 10 points, while Bright Akhuetie tallied a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds.
Javee Mocon paced San Beda with 18 points for the Red Lions, who dropped to an even 2-2.
Earlier, the De La Salle University Green Archers were able to withstand a gallant outing by the Mapua University Cardinals, taking a 102-95 win to extend their streak to six wins in Group A.
“It’s a character game pero not in the sense na nakabalik kami from a deficit. It’s a character game na yung pine-preach ko na we have to be disciplined. This game showed that nothing will be easy for us,” said first-year Green Archers head coach Louie Gonzalez.
La Salle faced a 15-point deficit midway through the third frame before the troika of Aljun Melecio, Taane Samuel, and Santi Santillan carried the Green Archers comeback.
Melecio was on point in the second half, knocking down all five of his three points in the final 20 minutes of the game. He finished with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
Samuel, a Kiwi student-athlete, had 22 points and eight boards, while Santillan and Justine Baltazar both tallied double-doubles.
This wasted a 34-point outing by Exe Biteng.
Mapua dropped to 3-2.
Joining La Salle on top of the standings are the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
Despite playing their second game in less than 24 hours, the Blue Eagles drubbed the University of Perpetual Help DALTA Altas, 83-59.
Mike Nieto topscored with 18 points, while Kouame added 17 markers for the Blue Eagles, who also sport a 6-0 record.
Kim Aurin led Perpetual with 18 markers.
Coming off a loss against the Fighting Maroons yesterday, the University of the East Red Warriors immediately rammed back to the win column as they slipped past the National University Bulldogs, 78-74.
Rey Acuno punched in 20 markers, eight of which came in the fourth, for the Red Warriors, who are now 3-7 in Group A.
On the other hand, prized-rookie Dave Ildefonso dialed in 14 points for the Bulldogs, who dropped themselves out of contention for a quarterfinals slot.
The Scores:
First Game
UE (78) – Pasaol 22, Acuno 20, Antiporda 14, Varilla 8, Bartolome 6, Conner 2,Gagate 2, Ph Manalang 2, Toribio 2, Maloles 0, Pa Manalang 0, Strait 0, Gallardo 0, Lacap 0.
NU (74) – D Ildefonso 14, Gallego 11, S Ildefonso 10, Clemente 10, Galinato 8, Mosqueda 4, Gaye 4, Aquino 4, Tibayan 4, Yu 3, Sinclair 2, Diputado 0, Joson 0, Mangayom 0.
Quarterscores: 21-19, 35-39, 61-60, 78-74.
Second Game
ADMU (83) – Mi Nieto 18, Kouame 17, Ma Nieto 12, Navarro 9 Asistio 5, Belangel 5, Tio 3, Black 2, Wong 1, Maagdenberg 1, Mamuyac 0, Mallillin 0, White 0.
UPHSD (59) – Aurin 18, R Peralta 11, Eze 10, Sese 8, Charcos 4, Cuevas 4, Pasia 2, Mangalino 2, Soriano 0, K Peralta 0, Coronel 0, Tamayo 0, Precillas 0, Razon 0.
Quarterscores: 17-9, 43-25, 59-43, 83-59.
Third Game
DLSU (102) – Melecio 25, Samuel 22, Santillan 13, Baltazar 11, Dyke 8, Go 8, Caracut 5, Lim 4, Corteza 2, Tolentino 2, Capacio 2, Bates 0, Manaytay 0.
MU (95) – Biteng 34, Pelayo 17, Victoria 11, Lugo 9, Bonifacio 8, Jabel 4, Serrano 4, Bunag 4, Pajarillo 2, Aguirre 1, Nocum 1, Gamboa 0.
Quarterscores: 16-30, 43-47, 68-69, 102-95.
Fourth Game
UP (56) – Akhuetie 10, Ja Gomez de Liano 10, Manzo 9, Desiderio 7, Lim 5, Dario 4, Murrell 4, Gozum 3, Vito 2, Jaboneta 2, Tungcab 0, Prado 0, Longa 0.
SBU (54) – Mocon 18, Tankoua 11, Bolick 8, Oftana 5, Soberano 3, Doliguez 3, Cabanag 2, Nelle 2, Cuntapay 1, Eugene 1, Abuda 0, Bahio 0, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Carino 0.
Quarterscores: 11-7, 26-28, 39-41, 56-54.
