THE University of the Philippines hit two birds with one stone inside San Juan's Filoil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday: sealing the deal in their title retention as well as an unbeaten run in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup.
This, after the Maroons fought back from 20 points down to thwart familiar foe La Salle, 69-66.
State U fell victim to the Green Archers' 29-6 second quarter barrage for a 23-43 deficit before Gerry Abadiano steered the ship out of rough waters. Responding with a 46-point second half, they scored their second straight championship in the preseason tournament.
“Nung halftime, sabi sa amin, 'di kami nakaka-shoot and nawawala rin yung depensa namin. Buti pagbalik namin ng second half, binounce back namin yun,” said Abadiano. “Para sa akin lang, wag kami tumigil, tuloy-tuloy lang sa pag-improve.”
Abadiano wound up with 12 points which, along with all his effort and energy, were more than enough to claim Puso Pilipinas Finals MVP honors. JD Cagulangan fired 13 markers of his own to go with five rebounds and four assists, as Francis Lopez contributed eight points, 12 boards, two dimes, and two steals.
Cagulangan and Lopez were also recognized as part of the Puso Pilipinas Mythical Five, alongside Far Eastern University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran impact rookies Veejay Pre and Jonathan Manalili, as well as La Salle's Kevin Quiambao.
Quiambao, the Smart Sports Season MVP, spearheaded his squad as always with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, but missed two triples in the last seven minutes that would've made a difference. CJ Austria also added 14 markers of his own for the Green Archers who settled for silver for the second year in a row.
Be Brave, still, FEU
FEU, meantime, bagged the bronze medal after weathering Letran’s late storm, 80-78.
Jorick Bautista top-scored for the Tamaraws with 21 points to go with three assists and three rebounds, all while being backstopped by Royce Alforque who got 19 points on top of seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals, as well as Pre and his 13-marker, 10-board double-double.
“Even this third place, this is huge for us. It is big. It’s a place for us to grow so we gotta go in steps,” said first-year FEU tactician Sean Chambers.
The Tamaraws held an advantage as big as 17, 47-30, in the second quarter, but the Knights rode Deo Cuajao and Manalili in battling back to just a two-point deficit, 78-80, with five ticks to go.
Letran even had a shot to force overtime with Charles Dimaano pickpocketing Bautista, but the promising freshman failed to do anything with the ball as time expired.
Cuajao paced the Knights with 27 points and five rebounds, Manalili followed with 15 markers and seven dimes, while Dimaano had 10 points of his own.
Rounding out the Tela.com Athletics All-Tournament Team are Harold Alarcon (UP), Jonnel Policarpio (La Salle), Jedrick Daa (FEU), Allen Liwag (College of St. Benilde), and Jomel Puno (San Beda University).
In the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt, Benilde's Ian Torres caught fire to claim the crown after torching Letran's Stephen Garupil, 14-4, in the final.
His hot shooting allowed him to take home the P20,000 cash prize and become the second Blazer to claim the crown after Prince Carlos ruled the inaugural tourney back in 2018.
The Scores:
FIRST GAME
FEU 80 — Bautista 21, Alforque 19, Pre 13, Konateh 11, Bagunu 6, Daa 5, Ona 3, Godinez 2, Buenaventura 0, Taboctaboc 0, Gordon 0, Felipe 0, Montemayor 0, Beato 0
LETRAN 78 — Cuajao 27, Manalili 15, Dimaano 10, Go 8, Galoy 5, Baliling 5, Montecillo 3, Pradela 3, Ariar 2, Jumao-As 0, Nunag 0, Garupil 0, Tangkay 0, Alarcon 0, Brillantes 0
QUARTERS: 24-17, 49-38, 62-67, 80-78
SECOND GAME
UP 69 — Cagulangan 13, Abadiano 12, Alarcon 9, Ududo 9, Lopez 8, Torres 7, Torculas 7, Felicilda 2, Alter 2, Stevens 0, Walker 0, Bayla 0, Briones 0, Belmonte 0, Tan 0
LA SALLE 66 — Quiambao 14, Austria 14, Ramiro 7, Agunanne 7, Gollena 7, Dungo 6, Policarpio 4, Macalalag 3, Marasigan 2, Cortez 2, Zamora 0, Buenaventura 0, Gaspay 0, Abadam 0, Rubico 0, Alian 0
QUARTERS: 17-14, 23-43, 48-53, 69-66
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