De La Salle University dominated a hapless Ateneo de Manila University squad, crushing its rivals with a 98-61 victory in the main game of the FilOil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup Sunday, June 2, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao powered the Green Archers with 31 points, seven boards, and four assists as they moved closer to clinching a spot in the quarterfinals.
“We keep on reminding these guys, don’t look at the score and just keep on perpetuating the game,” La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said.
“We know that if it’s Ateneo, it’s always gonna be a battle.”
The Green Archers flexed their high-octane offense from the onset as they opened with a 10-0 run, which ballooned to a 20-point lead, 35-15, after the first behind the exploits of Quiambao, Jonnel Policarpio, and EJ Abadam.
It was such a dominant performance from the boys of coach Robinson as at one point, they led by as many as 48, 84-36, following an Andrei Dungo three with 3:32 left in the third.
Abadam added 12 points while Dungo chipped in 11 for the Green Archers who earned their fourth straight win after a loss to open the preseason tournament backed by co-presented by Bostik El Heneral and ABC Tile Adhesive, and has Smart Sports, Strong Group Athletics, and Hanes as major sponsors.
Joshua Lazaro racked up a double-double of 15 points and 12 boards while Jared Bahay added 12 points and five boards for the Blue Eagles who played their third straight game in three days.
In the penultimate game, the University of the Philippines completed a sweep of the elimination round following a 68-46 wire-to-wire win over Adamson University behind Sean Alter’s 12 points and Francis Lopez’s 11.
No player from the now 2-4 Falcons breached double-digits, with Eli Ramos leading the way with seven points and seven boards.
Meanwhile, National University lived to fight another day following a 32-point drubbing of Far Eastern University, 91-59.
Jake Figueroa cashed in 11 points while Tebol Garcia and Kenshin Padrones chipped in 10 markers apiece as they improved to 2-3, tied with idle University of Santo Tomas.
Mo Konateh delivered 16 for the Tamaraws who slipped to 3-2.
On the other hand, Colegio de San Juan de Letran saved itself a quarterfinals seat after surviving a late rally from Mapua University, 96-92.
Nat Montecillo and Charles Dimaano showed the way for the Knights with 15 points apiece as Rafael Go added 14 to push their squad to 6-2 in the showcase also supported by Tela.com Athletics as official outfitter and Molten as official game ball, as well as minor sponsors Reyes Barbecue, KFC, Brothers Burger, Wallem Philippines Shipping, Harbor Star Shipping Services, Akari, Jiang Nan Hotpot, and KantiGo Sports.
Reigning NCAA MVP Clint Escamis paced the now 4-4 Cardinals with 31 points.
In the curtain-raiser, Reggz Gabat dropped 27 points to lead San Sebastian College-Recoletos to a 94-86 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College that kept them in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Raymart Escobido also dropped 20 points for the Golden Stags who improved to 2-5, while King Gurtiza dropped 26 points in a losing effort for the Generals who dropped to 4-3.
THE SCORES:
FIRST GAME
SAN SEBASTIAN 94— Re. Gabat 27, Escobido 20, Ra. Gabat 14, Felebrico 11, Aguilar 10, Pascual 5, Maliwat 3, Ricio 2, Barroga 2, Chuidian 0, Lintol 0, Ronquillo 0, Reguera 0, Ramilo 0
EAC 86— Gurtiza 26, Pagsanjan 15, Quinal 12, Jacob 7, Doromal 5, Bagay 5, Oftana 4, Lucero 3, Umpad 3, Ochavo 2, Loristo 2, Luciano 1, Bacud 1, Postanes 0, Devara 0
QUARTERS: 25-23, 51-40, 68-66, 94-86
SECOND GAME
LETRAN 96— Dimaano 15, Montecillo 15, Go 14, Jumao-As 13, Manalili 13, Nunag 8, Galoy 8, Baliling 5, Tangkay 5, Alarcon 0, Cuajao 0
MAPUA 92— Escamis 31, Jabonete 23, Cuenco 10, Mangubat 10, Recto 6, Bancale 5, Concepcion 3, Agemenyi 2, Igliane 2, Fermin 0, Abdulla 0, Pantaleon 0, Fornis 0
QUARTERS: 23-22, 47-43, 71-64, 96-92
THIRD GAME
NU 91— Figueroa 11, Garcia 10, Padrones 10, Manansala 9, Dela Cruz 9, Santiago 9, Yu 7, Perciano 6, Enriquez 5, Tulabut 4, Gulapa 4, Francisco 3, John 2, Lim 2
FEU 59— Konateh 16, Pre 15, Felipe 6, Bautista 5, Bagunu 3, Ona 3, Alforque 2, Daa 2, Pasaol 2, Godinez 2, Montemayor 2, Gordon 1, Buenaventura 0, Taboctaboc 0, Beato 0
QUARTERS: 23-20, 45-31, 72-46, 91-59
FOURTH GAME
UP 68— Alter 12, Lopez 11, Belmonte 10, Ududo 8, Briones 6, Torculas 6, Alarcon 5, Bayla 3, Abadiano 3, Felicilda 2, Cagulangan 2, Rivero 0, Torres 0, Walker 0, Tan 0
ADAMSON 46— Ramos 7, Calisay 6, Mantua 6, Alexander 6, Yerro 6, Anabo 5, Ignacio 5, Fransman 3, Manzano 2, Mudianga 0, Dignadice 0
QUARTERS: 17-7, 35-23, 56-33, 68-46
FIFTH GAME
LA SALLE 98— Quiambao 31, Abadam 12, Dungo 11, Cortez 9, Austria 9, Policarpio 7, Ramiro 6, Macalalag 5, Agunanne 4, Marasigan 3, Alian 1, Zamora 0, Gaspay 0, Romero 0, Rubico 0
ATENEO 61— Lazaro 15, Bahay 12, Gamber 7, Koon 6, Espinosa 6, Amos 5, Ong 4, Porter 2, Reyes 2, Tuano 2, Bongo 0, Quitevis 0, De Luna 0, Nieto 0, Espina 0
QUARTERS: 35-15, 65-30, 85-43, 98-61
