VEEJAY Pre, James Payosing and Elliot Dimaculangan combined for 46 points and University of the Philippines rolled to its third win with an 89-70 drubbing of Centro Escolar University in the PG Flex Invitational Tournament 2025 Quintana Cup on Thursday at the Paco Arena.
A transferee from San Beda, Payosing waxed hot from afar while Pre and Dimaculangan barreled their way inside the shaded lane in the middle quarters to rip the game wide apart, 63-46, going into the payoff period.
Payosing spot-on for UP
Displaying the form that earned him the Finals MVP award when the Red Lions won the NCAA crown two years ago, Payosing delivered 17 points in less than 22 minutes of play while Dimaculangan had 15 points, 9 boards and 2 assists.
But it was Pre who took the Best Player of the Game citation after producing 14 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists as the Maroons improved to 3-1 in the 9-team preseason tournament.
Letran likewise hiked their record to 3-1 with 74-69 win over erstwhile unbeaten Manila Central University – thanks to the 21-point performance of Denzil Sison-Walker.
In the other game of the event backed by Smart Sports, Crane, Topflite, Hapee Toothpaste, Gerry’s Grill, Spalding, Mighty Bond and Best Options, Immaculada Concepcion College finally barged into the win column after three failed tries with a 73-67 win over Gardner College.
Joshua Bulante, coming off a 23-point effort in the team’s 71-83 loss to UCAL champion Olivarez College, led the team’s well-balanced attack with 16 points spiked by two triples.
With MCU’s defeat, the Olivarez Sea Lions remain the only undefeated squad with a 3-0 card.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
