By MARK REY MONTEJO
Just like old times, it’s going to be a fierce and exciting battle for supremacy in the 13th ECJ Preseason Cup this Wednesday, June 12.
And like last year’s UAAP Finale, it’s going to be a fight between reigning titlist La Salle and University of the Philippines.
The two giants of the premier league showed their readiness for the coming season by downing their respective semis rivals with the Maroons scoring an 89-77 win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, while the Archers outlasted the Letran Knights on Sunday at the at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Maroons, the tournament’s defending champion, rode on the hot-shooting duo of Francis Lopez and JD Cagulangan to prevail.
Lopez erupted for 22 points while Cagulangan added 13.
The victory didn’t come easy for UP, as Jon Godinez and Jorick Bautista carried the scoring cudgels for FEU to trim the deficit to just 3, 72-69.
But it was the Tamaraws’ last hurrah as the Maroons got their acts once again and unleashed a16-3 blitz for an 88-72 cushion with under four minutes left.
“The fashion that [FEU] won (yesterday), obviously, with the game-winner. Yung fighting until the end attitude nila kahapon, we expected na dadalhin nila yung ganung momentum papasok sa larong ito,” said assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
The Green Archers almost squandered their 80-56 lead after the Knights, which led by Titing Manalili and Jovel Baliling, showed their might for a 31-10 run, 87-90, with nine seconds on the clock.
La Salle rookie Lian Ramiro split his free throws but Kevin Quiambao snagged the offensive rebound to save the Green Archers.
Quiambao finished with a double-double output of 10 points and 12-rebounds while Jonnel Policarpio scattered 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
Manalili wound up with 13 points, eight assists, and three rebounds in a losing cause.
