La Salle claims back-to-back wins, San Beda, JRU extend winning run to four straight in Filoil Preseason

c/o Filoil

Games Sunday
11 a.m. - JRU vs. EAC
1 p.m. - San Beda vs. Perpetual
3 p.m. - Benilde vs. Mapua
5 p.m. - Adamson vs. La Salle

LA Salle survived Mo Konateh's monster game while San Beda and Jose Rizal University continued to pace the NCAA Group in the Independence Day staging of the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive on Friday.

Jacob Cortez and rookie Jason Cibull connived in guiding the Green Archers to back-to-back wins as they held off Far Eastern University, 82-77 at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Cortez led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Cibull added 14 markers to move up to 2-1.

"My teammates gave me a lot of trust and I have a lot of trust in myself. Those shots I took earlier, I worked a lot on those. Today it wasn’t just following but my teammates are getting the rebound, they’re doing the hustle. Whatever I don’t do they’re there to do it and we have a lot of trust to each other," said Cortez.

Konateh shouldered the load for the Tamaraws with 29 points and 12 rebounds, but that can't halt their freefall to their third straight defeat to sink to 1-3 in this tilt which has Hanes, Buffalo's Wings N Things, Wallem, BDO, Akari, Smart, Molten, Reyes Barbecue, Nature's Spring, Tela.com Athletics, Brothers Burger, and Don Benito's as sponsors.

The Red Lions also preserved their unblemished 4-0 record with a 95-89 win over St. Benilde in the nightcap.

Aldous Torculas erupted for 28 points and six rebounds, including two clutch triples that gave the Red Lions a 93-87 breathing room in the final minute.

Zedjay Etulle also collected 14 points, while RC Calimag delivered down the stretch and finished with 12 points, two rebounds, and three assists.

Jhomel Ancheta stepped up for the 2-2 Blazers with 17 points, as Zenric Jarque and Matthew Jucom contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The Heavy Bombers also stayed spotless in four games after pulling off a 73-67 comeback win over Arellano.

Trailing by three entering the final canto, the Heavy Bombers leaned on their defense to shut down the Chiefs, holding them to just 10 points in the payoff period to complete the turnaround.

Jalen Garcia led JRU with 21 points, six rebounds, and one assist, while Allan Laurenaria stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Winless Arellano, meanwhile, absorbed its fifth straight defeat despite keeping things close for most of the game. Aaron Manansala and Troy Valencia paced the Chiefs with 11 points apiece.

Letran also extended its winning streak to six after edging Lyceum of the Philippines University, 86-83, in a down-to-the-wire finish.

Jimboy Estrada delivered the biggest shot of the night with a crucial triple before Aaron Buensalida knocked down two charities in the clutch to seal the win.

Estrada finished with 16 points and two assists, Buensalida got 14 points and seven rebounds, and Titing Manalili registered 13 points, seven assists, and four boards for the Knights, which rose to 6-1.

Renz Villegas led LPU (2-5) with 16 points in the loss.

The Scores:

First Game:
JRU 73 - Garcia 21, Laurenaria 18, Herrera 9, Mangubat 7, Masiglat 5, Garupil 4, Eligado 4, Panapanaan 3, Peñaverde 2, Duque 0, Castillo 0, Agemenyi 0.
ARELLANO 67 - Valencia 11, Manansala 11, Camay 9, Vinoya 8, Hernal 8, Ladica 6, Geronimo 4, Buenaventura 3, Abiera 3, Flores 2, Borromeo 2, Langit 0, Demetria 0.
Quarters: 20-15, 35-37, 54-57, 73-67.

Second Game:
LETRAN 86 - Estrada 16, Buensalida 14, Manalili 13, Sison-Walker 8, Siena 8, Cargo 7, Gammad 6, Santos 6, Diamante 4, Montecillo 2, Silorio 2, Hugo 0, Valdeavilla 0, Lim 0.
LPU 83 - Villegas 16, Rubico 15, Manuel 10, Almario 9, Ondoa 8, Aurigue 6, Peñafiel 6, Matienzo 4, Daileg 4, Fuentes 3, Cardinas 2, Aviles 0, Pallingayan 0, Panelo 0.
Quarters: 27-25, 49-49, 67-63, 86-83.

Third Game:
LA SALLE 82 - Cortez 18, Cibull 14, Amos 9, Marasigan 8, Dungo 7, Abadam 6, Macalalag 6, Pablo 6, Gagate 4, Gollena 4, Daep 0, Melencio 0.
FEU 77 - Konateh 29, Bautista 15, Cabonilas 11, Pasaol 8, Daa 7, Burgos 5, Hall 2, Montemayor 0, Mahmood 0, Rañeses 0.
Quarters: 24-19, 44-41, 59-55, 82-77.

Fourth Game:
SAN BEDA 95 - Torculas 28, Etulle 14, RC. Calimag 12, Bonzalida 9, Marcelo 8, Jalbuena 5, Songcuya 4, Jamora 3, Efron 3, Ri. Calimag 3, Hawkins 2, Sarigumba 2, Dabao 2, Lina 0, Culdora 0, Medroso 0.
BENILDE 89 - Ancheta 17, Jarque 15, Jucom 14, Liwag 9, Moore 7, Celis 6, Go 6, Morales 5, Arciaga 4, Daja 3, Baliquig 3, Podador 0.
Quarters: 20-26, 46-45, 67-68, 95-89.