The University of the Philippines exacted a measure of revenge against UAAP tormentor De La Salle University with a pulsating 89-77 decision to raise the curtains on 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 markers, 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 Colegio de San Juan de 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.
“Ako kasi, palagi lang akong ready. Ginagawa ko lang trabaho ko sa practice and ‘di ako magrereklamo sa playing time. Especially now na undermanned kami, kinailangan mag-step up,” he said.
It was also Tagala who scored the last five points to seal the deal in San Beda’s takedown of their new-look archrivals.
“It’s always nice winning against your rivals kasi it gives the community something to cheer for. Very happy for Josh Tagala’s game din today, but it wasn’t a surprise for me. He’s always the first one in the gym, practicing his shooting,” said head coach Yuri Escueta.
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 co-presented by Bostik El Heneral and ABC Tile Adhesive, and has Smart Sports, Strong Group Athletics, and Hanes as major sponsors.
