Chicco Briones celebrated his birthday by catching fire for 21 points to shoot the University of the Philippines over Far Eastern University, 75-65, and back into the win column in the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Briones, who turned 23 yesterday, took charge of the Fighting Maroons’ offensive which was missing suspended Harold Alarcon on Thursday at the Playtime Cares Filoil EcoOil Centre.
“Chicco has been there, done that. He’s had minutes, he’s not had minutes, but now in his third year, we’re expecting more from him,” said assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
It wasn’t until midway through the third quarter, however, that Briones linked up with Jacob Bayla and Reyland Torres for the pivotal 15-0 push that turned a three-point deficit into a 64-52 advantage early in the final frame.
The Tamaraws could only come as close as five, 61-66, the rest of the way, as State U got back on track following back-to-back losses to La Salle and University of Santo Tomas in the tilt which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes
Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
Torres wound up with 12 points and five rebounds, as Bayla chipped in seven markers, four boards, three assists, and two steals of his own to help offset Alarcon’s absence due to having to serve a one-game ban following his ejection in the previous game.
Now standing at 3-2, UP is headed for a training camp in Serbia before wrapping up its elimination round assignments against Adamson on July 9.
On the other hand, FEU suffered its first setback through three tries despite the best efforts of Mo Konateh who pounded in a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double.
Over in the NCAA Group, Benilde remained the lone undefeated team even as Letran and Emilio Aguinaldo College kept close at the head of the pack.
The Blazers made quick work of hapless San Sebastian, 81-52, behind hot shooting from a nearly complete lineup.
Matthew Oli top-scored with 12 points built on three triples, as Ernest Daja chimed in 10 markers of his own for Benilde’s fifth win in as many games.
“I would say this is our best game yet this preseason and hopefully, we keep it up,” said head coach Charles Tiu, as all but one of the 16 players he fielded in contributed in the scoring column.
The Knights then stayed solo second after riding a second half surge past Perpetual, 80-65.
Jimboy Estrada waxed hot with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, as Titing Manalili posted a 12-marker, 10-dime double-double in Letran’s rise to 4-1.
For their part, the Generals clipped the wings of reigning NCAA titlist Mapua, 71-64, thanks to the exploits of Wilmar Oftana.
Oftana collected 16 points and five rebounds, while Joshua Tolentino scored 11 markers of his own, all but two coming from deep, to help EAC improve to 3-1.
Pacing the losing effort for the Cardinals (2-2) was TJ Abdulla with 13 points, for the Altas (1-2) were Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz with 11 points apiece, and for the Golden Stags (0-6) was JD Cabilla with 14 points.
