NU stuns La Salle as UP, Mapua earn wins in Filoil Preseason opener

c/o Filoil EcoOil Sports

Games Monday
1 p.m. - JRU vs. Letran
3 p.m. - Benilde vs. Perpetual
5 p.m. - FEU vs. Gilas Youth

NATIONAL University burst everyone's bubble and spoiled reigning UAAP kings La Salle, 70-64, in the opening day of the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive on Sunday at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Reinhard Jumamoy put on the finishing touches in the Bulldogs' first day shocker, calmly sinking six free throws in the final minute to end up with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists to hold off the Green Archers' belated rallies.

It was a signature balanced attack for NU with Mo Diassana logging nine points and 11 rebounds, PJ Palacielo registering eight points and six boards, and DJ Laconsay getting eight points and two rebounds.

"Hindi naman dapat na statement win ito eh," said coach Jeff Napa, downplaying the win as the Bulldogs usher in a new era without top guns Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Jolo Manansala.

"We're starting a new season, a new generation for this team so we just keep learning and implementing our system."

Jacob Cortez tried his earnest to carry the load for La Salle with 13 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, while Mason Amos also had 13 points from three three-pointers in the defeat -- a tough start for the green-and-white as they traverse this new day after Mike Phillips and Kean Baclaan.

Three-time defending preseason champion University of the Philippines also powered through a second-half reversal to fend off University of Santo Tomas, 82-78.

Veejay Pre, making his Fighting Maroons debut, lived up to his hype and dropped seven of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, including the booming three with 3:51 to play that gave the Diliman side a 75-69 lead.

The former UAAP Rookie of the Year also got four rebounds and two assists to anchor the come-from-behind win.

Rey Remogat also sealed off the victory with a drive that kept UP up, 79-73, with 1:34 left for his 12 points, six assists, and four boards.

“Sa akin, being able to regroup as a team and adjust the second half, yung ganung klaseng experience will be really needed in the UAAP. As I've said, through these games, we’re getting to know each other on both ends cause we really need this experience," said Fighting Maroons mentor Goldwin Monteverde.

Migs Yniguez added 10 points, as Lowell Briones got nine points and five rebounds.

The UST loss wasted Mark Llemit's scorching night where he shot 22 points built on four triples, as Collins Akowe produced his usual dominant double-double performance in the tune of 19 points and 16 rebounds.

In the curtain-opener, Mapua welcomed its new coach Chito Victolero with a resounding 87-66 conquest over Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Yam Concepcion paced the five Cardinals to breach double figures with 20 points, five assists, and four rebounds, Cyrus Nitura flirted with a triple-double of 12 points, 13 boards, and eight assists, and Sebastian Reyes also chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds.

Rookie guard Jamal Diaz also impressed with 11 points, five assists, and four boards after getting the starting nod.

"Maraming trabaho because I need to rebuild this team. That's why I told them they need to fasttrack their mental toughness para lang mas maganda yung showing namin ngayon," said Victolero.

Matthew Rubico led the Pirates with 15 points and seven assists as Roger Ondoa got 10 off the bench for coach Jamike Jarin.

The Scores:

First Game:
MAPUA 87 - Concepcion 20, Reyes 15, C. Nitura 12, Diaz 11, Callangan 11, Cuenco 4, L. Nitura 4, Reyes 3, Pascual 3, Bernabe 2, Lloren 2, Mendoza 0, Sacro 0, Ryan 0, Dones 0.
LPU 66 - Rubico 15, Ondoa 10, Daileg 8, Guadaña 7, Fuentes 7, Villaver 4, Cardinas 4, Peñafiel 3, Aurigue 3, Pallingayan 2, Matienzo 2, Aviles 1, Caduyac 0, Abrantes 0, Almario 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 42-35, 64-55, 87-66.

Second Game:
UP 82 - Pre 17, Remogat 12, Yniguez 10, Briones 9, Palanca 8, Bayla 7, Payosing 7, Alter 4, Miles 4, Stevens 2, Poyos 2, Dimaculangan 0, Maga 0, Coronel 0, Andres 0.
UST 78 - Llemit 22, Akowe 19, Crisostomo 8, Sevilla 8, Buenaflor 6, Bucsit 5, Acido 4, Melecio 3, Porter 3, Manding 0, Cañete 0, Calum 0, Danting 0, Sevilla 0.
Quarters: 15-22, 42-47, 60-60, 82-78.

Third Game:
NU 70 - Jumamoy 15, Diassana 9, Palacielo 8, Laconsay 8, Alfanta 7, Garcia 7, Reyes 4, Tulabut 3, Francisco 2, Serrano 2, Cartel 2, Navarro 2, Padrones 1, Miranda 0, Figueroa 0.
LA SALLE 64 - Cortez 13, Amos 13, Macalalag 10, Daep 7, Gagate 6, Abadam 6, Dungo 4, Pablo 3, Kulang 2, Gollena 0, Quines 0, Melencio 0, Sarmiento 0.
Quarters: 14-15, 32-28, 49-44, 70-64.