LETRAN and Benilde remained neck-and-neck for the top seed out of the NCAA bracket as the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup elimination round draws to a close.
The Knights ended the eliminations with a 7-2 record, boasting of a seven-game winning streak highlighted by their 84-81 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College, Wednesday inside San Juan’s Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Deo Cuajao waxed hot with 22 points on 71 percent shooting from distance, along with a crucial block on Harvey Pagsanjan’s potential game-tying reverse layup. Jimboy Estrada and Bryan Alarcon then contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Letran which pushed the 4-4 Generals to the brink of elimination.
"So far, hindi pa rin kami satisfied, but on the positive side, siguro percentage-wise, noong nagsimula kami April until this first week of June, from 5 percent naging 15 percent na kami. Pero malayo pa yung tatahakin ng team namin," said newly-formalized first-year head coach Allen Ricardo.
The Blazers, for their part, scored a 77-72 victory vs. Perpetual to stay a step ahead of the Knights.
Mowell Morales and Matthew Oli each contributed 14 points for red-hot Benilde, now on a seven-game win run following a loss to open the tournament.
“Whether we’re No. 1 or 2, it doesn’t matter, malakas naman lahat sa kabilang bracket. We’re gonna have four games, possibly five, in seven days if we make it to the semis. So it’s about being wise and preparing for the quarterfinals,” said head coach Charles Tiu.
Tiu’s wards, however, would need to find a way through EAC in the last day of eliminations on Thursday still at the same venue to claim the top seed. A win would raise the Blazers’ standing to 8-1, while a loss would relegate them to a tie with Letran, which owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Generals went on a 4-1 rampage to start the preseason, but have now dropped three in a row even after Nico Quinal’s 17 points. They now hope to upset Benilde and have help from other teams to have a shot at the next round.
On the other hand, the Altas bowed out sporting a 4-5 slate. Christian Pagaran paced them as always with 22 markers.
Still on the NCAA side, Mapua downed Arellano, 79-71, to improve its record to 5-4 and increase its chances at the quarterfinals.
Aaron Fermin finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Lawrence Mangubat registered 17 markers and five boards for the Cardinals, who now await the results of EAC and San Beda's (5-3) games tomorrow.
Jaedan Ongotan stood out with 16 points and six rebounds for the 3-5 and already-eliminated Chiefs.
JRU then scored their second win at the expense of San Sebastian, 95-87.
Steady guard MJ Raymundo was two assists shy of a triple-double, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, as Jonathan Medina backed him up with 20 points and eight rebounds for the 2-6 Heavy Bombers. Raymart Escobido shone in the final game of the 3-6 Golden Stags, tallying 22 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
UST stays alive
In the lone UAAP game, University of Santo Tomas eliminated Adamson, 58-54, behind Mo Tounkara’s 15-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Cedrick Manzano, on the other hand, led the Soaring Falcons with 12 points, two assists, and two rebounds.
The Growling Tigers, who also unveiled their newest commit in NCAA juniors MVP Amiel Acido, hope to book the UAAP group’s last playoff berth when they go up against FEU tomorrow.
READ: NCAA Juniors MVP Amiel Acido chooses to go to UST
The Filoil Preseason quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while the championship match tips off on Jun. 12.
BOX SCORES
FIRST GAME
LETRAN 84- Cuajao 22, Estrada 15, Alarcon 10, Nunag 9, Montecillo 8, Galoy 7, Javillonar 6, Dimaano 5, Jumao-As 2, Go 0, Baliling 0.
EAC 81- Quinal 17, Gurtiza 12, Pagsanjan 11, Umpad 8, Ochavo 8, Luciano 6, Jacob 6, Oftana 5, Tolentino 3, Devara 2, Loristo 2, Bagay 1, Angeles 0, Ednilag 0, Doria 0.
QUARTERS: 16-23, 45-51, 68-68, 84-81
SECOND GAME
JRU 95- Medina 20, Guiab 16, Raymundo 15, Sarmiento 9, Panapanaan 8, Ramos 7, De Leon 7, Lozano 6, H. Raymundo 3, De Jesus 2, Bernardo 0, Benitez 0, Ferrer 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 87- Escobido 22, R. Gabat 17, Aguilar 14, Are 13, Felebrico 12, Barroga 4, Lintol 2, Ronquillo 2, Gabat 1, Maliwat 0, Pascual 0, Ricio 0.
QUARTERS: 25-20, 47-40, 66-59, 95-87
THIRD GAME
MAPUA 79- Mangubat 17, Fermin 14, Hubilla 9, Escamis 7, Recto 7, Jabonete 6, Cuenco 5, Pabilona 4, Bancale 2, Concepcion 2, Igliane 2, Abdulla 2, Pantaleon 2, Ryan 0.
ARELLANO 71- Ongotan 16, Abiera 10, Vinoya 7, Dayrit 7, Hernal 7, Geronimo 6, Borromeo 5, Dela Cruz 4, Tagotongan 3, Valencia 2, Miller 2, Libang 2, Camay 0, Capulong 0, Espiritu 0.
QUARTERS: 22-21, 44-44, 63-59, 79-71
FOURTH GAME
BENILDE 77- Morales 14, Oli 14, Ancheta 13, Torres 11, Liwag 8, Ynot 6, Turco 6, Ondoa 2, Galas 2, Cajucom 1, Sangco 0, Eusebio 0, Vanguardia 0.
PERPETUAL 72- Pagaran 22, Boral 14, Gojo Cruz 9, Movida 9, Orgo 8, Gelsano 4, Sevilla 4, Puizarro 2, Ayon 0, Valencia 0, Montemayor 0, Thompson 0, Nuñez 0, Cauguiran 0.
QUARTERS: 18-18, 50-34, 58-47, 77-72
FIFTH GAME
UST 58- Tounkara 15, Cabañero 8, Acido 8, Padrigao 7, Manaytay 7, Estacio 5, Paranada 3, Pangilinan 3, Crisostomo 2, Danting 0, Laure 0, Robinson 0.
ADAMSON 54- Erolon 12, Fransman 10, Mantua 9, Ignacio 7, Mudianga 6, Anabo 3, Ramos 3, Montebon 2, Manzano 2, Yerro 0, Ronzone 0, Sicat 0, Alexander 0.
QUARTERS: 21-15, 37-32, 50-44, 58-54
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