University of the Philippines exacted a revenge of sorts against UAAP tormentor La Salle with a pulsating 89-77 win at the start of the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup, Saturday inside San Juan’s Filoil EcoOil Centre.
JD Cagulangan was brilliant throughout with 19 points, while Francis Lopez tallied 16 points, four assists, three rebounds, and three steals and new foreign student-athlete Dikachi Ududo also impressed with six points, 10 boards, and two blocks.
The Fighting Maroons had all the counters every time the Green Archers closed in, and the former got some sort of redemption after the latter edged them out in the three-game UAAP 86 Finals last December.
“Very excited kami na La Salle agad makakatapat kasi para sa’kin, big game para sa’min ito. Buti naman, nag-respond naman nang maayos ang buong team,” said Cagulangan.
UP was leading for the majority of the matchup, but La Salle kept coming and was only down by four, 75-79, inside the last six minutes. It was at that point, however, that Cagulangan and Lopez joined forces for all the points in their 10-2 finishing kick.
“Happy in a sense na, alam naman nating first game pa lang ito, pero seeing the players respond, ok na ok sa’kin yun. Ang importante sa’kin is getting the exposure we need for all our players, especially against La Salle pa,” said head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao paced the Green Archers with 15 points and nine rebounds and was backstopped by Mike Phillips and Henry Agunnane who had 13 markers apiece.
Earlier, San Beda University got the better of archrival Letran, 76-69, even without James Payosing and Yukien Andrada.
With the NCAA 99 Finals MVP and their team captain injured, the Red Lions got a big boost from Josh Tagala who wound up with 20 points built on six triples, 12 coming in the 19-5 third quarter run that took back the lead and momentum for their side.
Jimboy Estrada topped the scoring column for the Knights with 16 points, while Kobe Monje also added 14 markers in new head coach Allen Ricardo’s debut in the tournament.
Chris Hubilla then made quite the first impression for Mapua University, collecting 17 points and nine rebounds to carry the Cardinals to a 75-67 triumph over Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Hubilla, the former NCAA Juniors Mythical Team member who committed to UP and Letran before finally landing in Mapua’s nest, was backstopped by MC Cuenco who had 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds. NCAA MVP Clint Escamis didn’t even have to do much with just eight markers to his name, as the Cardinals cruised to an opening win.
In other results, University of Perpetual Help edged out Jose Rizal University, 91-89, in a double-overtime thriller behind Chris Pagaran’s 23 points, while University of the East topped Adamson University, 65-57, on the back of a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double from Precious Momowei.
MJ Raymundo (21 points) and Royce Mantua (10) showed the way for the Heavy Bombers and Soaring Falcons, respectively.
FIRST GAME
MAPUA 75 – Cuenco 17, Hubilla 17, Escamis 8, Jabonete 7, Mangubat 7, Fermin 5, Bancale 5, Abdulla 4, Concepcion 3, Agemenyi 2, Recto 0, Fornis 0
LPU 67 – Bravo 16, Guadana 12, Alattica 10, Barba 6, Penafiel 6, Aviles 6, Villegas 5, Versoza 4, Moralejo 2, Montano 0, Daileg 0, Caduyac 0, Palligayan 0, Fuentes 0
QUARTERS: 15-19, 34-41, 55-47, 75-67
SECOND GAME
PERPETUAL 91 – Pagaran 23, Orgo 16, Boral 16, Pizarro 11, Nunez 7, Gojo Cruz 5, Abis 4, Manuel 4, Thompson 3, Sevilla 2, Gelsano 0, Movida 0, Montemayor 0
JRU 89 – Raymundo 21, Argente 16, Medina 15, Barrera 14, Lozano 8, Panapaanan 5, De Jesus 2, Ramos 2, Sarmiento 2, Guiab 2, Garcia 2, De Leon 0, Pabico 0, Benitez 0, Ferrer 0, Samontanes 0
QUARTERS: 20-22, 40-36, 68-55, 77-77, 85-85 (OT1), 91-89 (OT2)
THIRD GAME
UE 65 – Momowei 16, Maga 13, Spandonis 10, Galang 10, Lingolingo 5, Cruz-Dumont 4, Mulingtapang 4, Abate 3, Robles 0, Go 0, Mahilim 0
ADAMSON 57 – Mantua 10, Manzano 9, Ramos 8, Ignacio 7, Anabo 7, Dignadice 5, Edding 3, Barcelona 3, Ronzone 2, Canete 2, Fransman 1, Torres 0, Barasi 0, Sicat 0
QUARTERS: 18-12, 31-31, 46-42, 65-57
FOURTH GAME
SAN BEDA 76 – Tagala 20, Puno 13, Calimag RC 8, Sajonia 6, Royo 5, Calimag Ri 5, Alloso 5, Celzo 4, Torres 4, Gonzales 3, Peregrina 2, Songcuya 1, Estacio 0
LETRAN 69 – Estrada 16, Monje 14, Manalili 8, Montecillo 8, Javillonar 7, Cuajao 5, Go 5, Galoy 2, Ariar 2, Baliling 2, Pradela 0
QUARTERS: 24-17, 41-39, 61-56, 76-69
FIFTH GAME
UP 89 – Cagulangan 19, Lopez 16, Alarcon 9, Abadiano 8, Belmonte 8, Ududo 6, Alter 6, Torculas 5, Torres 4, Felicilda 4, Fortea 2, Briones 2, Stevens 0
LA SALLE 77 – Quiambao 15, Phillips 13, Agunanne 13, Policarpio 10, Austria 6, David 5, Macalalag 4, Marasigan 4, Abadam 2, Dungo 2, Ogana 2, Cortez 1, Gollena 0
QUARTERS: 31-22, 46-41, 69-66, 89-77
