Reigning NCAA champion La Salle Greenhills continued its hot run, this time claiming the scalp of UAAP runner-up National University, 76-61, to boost its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals of the PCABL 11th Freego Cup on Saturday at the Buddhacare gym in Quezon City.
Joshua David led five LSGH players in double figures with 16 points – the bulk coming in the payoff period where they outscored the Bullpups 24-12 to help the Greenies notch their fourth straight win since dropping their opening game.
Joel Cagulangan, Sydney Mosqueda and Inand Fornilos chipped in 11 points each, while Lennox Valenzuela contributed 10 points in another show of force in the tournament presented by Freego Jeans.
Malayan University and Adamson tightened the hunt for the two bonuses by downing their respective rivals in the preseason tournament also backed by Choi Garden, CW Home Depot, Powerhouse, and Hapee Toothpaste.
The Malayan Red Robins drew another solid performance from Clint Escamis to beat the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 89-84, while the Adamson Baby Falcons outlasted the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 75-64, for similar 4-2 marks.
In another brilliant show of marksmanship, Escamis finished with 26 points highlighted by two triples while Adam Dorian and Andrew Padilla led the Baby Falcons with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
In the other game, University of Perpetual Help College tied NU, and JRU fourth to sixth places at 3-3 following a 92-74 drubbing of winless University of the East.