UNIVERSITY of the Philippines needed a late flurry to hold off Mapua, 80-71, Monday in the 2019 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.
The Fighting Maroons almost squandered a 26-point lead, 61-35, but got their acts together late to pull off their fourth win.
Juan Gomez de Liano powered UP with 17 points, as Jun Manzo got 15 as it rose to 4-2 in Group A.
Warren Bonifacio led Mapua (1-5) with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Eric Jabel got 15 points in the defeat.
Adamson also cruised to its fourth win, trouncing Jose Rizal University, 70-52.
Simon Camacho ignited the early assault from the Soaring Falcons, turning a tight 11-all deadlock as they went on a second quarter blitz to erect a 54-28 advantage.
The team captain finished with 12 points to support Papi Sarr's 15-point, 10-rebound outing for Adamson, which rose to a 4-1 card.
Rookie Thomas Vasquez carried the Heavy Bombers with 12, but that wasn't enough as they fell to a 1-5 record.
Lyceum also hardly broke a sweat against Emilio Aguinaldo College, cruising to an 86-64 win in the nightcap.
Jayson David fired 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists to spearhead the balanced attack for the Pirates.
The win helped Lyceum to rise to 4-1 in Group B, while sending EAC to a 1-4 card.
Kurt Gurtiza commanded the Generals in the losing effort with 16 points.
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