Clutch threes help FEU fend off Mapua in Filoil pre-season cup

MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University leaned on clutch triples to  fend off Mapua, 89-77, to kick off their Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup campaign on Saturday at the Arena in San Juan.

Sophomore guard Achi Iñigo knocked down two triples in the last three minutes for the Tamaraws to cripple the Cardinals’ comeback led by Jonas Nimes.

After Nimes strung up five consecutive points to cut down FEU’s lead to seven, 80-73 with 3:18 left to play, Iñigo rifled in an open triple from the left side to bring the lead back to double digits.

Nimes answered with a step back jumper, but both Arnie Padilla and Iñigo struck from downtown to close out Mapua.

“We treat this tournament as a league where we will learn as a team. We really are not looking for results yet. It’s more on learning about the player, the system, and absorb the system that were trying to instill. But it’s good that we won today,” head coach Nash Racela said.

Mac Belo, one of the most improved players in the FEU side, tallied 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in only 20 minutes of play.

Racela got contributions from his entire 15-man line-up, with Tolomia finishing on top with 19 points.

Jessie Saitanan, meanwhile, put on a monster showing for the rebuilding Cardinals with 28 points to keep them within striking distance of the Tamaraws. Nimes added 15 markers.

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