La Salle, UE pull off contrasting Filoil wins

Jeron Teng scattered 30 points as La Salle opened its campaign in style with a 98-88 victory over Adamson even as University of the East stunned Ateneo in overtime at the start of the 2016 Filoil Flying V Premier Cup yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Playing in his final season, Teng spearheaded a balanced charge by the Green Archers who gifted new coach Aldin Ayo his first victory, while spoiling the debut of Franz Pumaren as Adamson mentor in the pre-season tournament.

La Salle put away Adamson with a 16-2 blast early in the final period anchored by sophomore Jayboy Gob and Cameroonian center Ben Mbala for an 87-73 lead.

Gob finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Mbala picked up 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“It’s a good win, but I think we’re only at 60 to 70 percent in terms of playing the system that I want,” said Ayo. “If you look at all my players, none of them played for teams that did a lot of trapping. They know the concept but their bodies haven’t adjusted to playing it.”

The Warriors needed an extra five minutes to slip past the Blue Eagles, 93-91, for their first victory.

Edson Batiller forced overtime with a triple, before Renz Palma took charge in the extra session as the Warriors completed a fightback from seven points down in the last two minutes of regulation.

Palma finished with 22 points for the Warriors, while Batiller wound up with 14 points.
The Warriors of coach Derrick Pumaren also got an unlikely lift from former reserve player Alvin Pasaol who finished with 15 points.

But the Eagles, now under the wings of national team coach Tab Baldwin, can take heart from strong performances of Nigerian Chibueze Ikeh who came through with 28 points and rookie Tyler Tio who contributed 19 points.

The Archers roared to an early 12-0 lead, but the Falcons fought their way back behind reserves Dawn Ochea, Harold Ng, Khristian Bernardo and new acquisitions Robby Manalang and Sean Maganti for a 34-32 lead in the second period.