Photos by: Kittine Mayo
Far Eastern University held off a spirited College of St. Benilde side, 73-67, in its opening game in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Blazers outscored the Tamaraws, 20-9, in the final frame, but FEU’s 64-47 lead proved to be too big of a cushion for CSB to overcome.
“We’re a work in progress, we still have so many things to do as a team,” said FEU head coach Olsen Racela, who replaced his brother Nash after the 79th season of the UAAP.
“I told them that we really have to play the whole 40 minutes, and we got into penalty in the early stages of the second and third quarters. Fouling is not good defense because when we got into the fourth quarter we were still in foul trouble.”
FEU committed 28 fouls as opposed to Benilde’s 17 that resulted to the Blazers shooting 26-of-38 from the free throw line.
Hubert Cani led FEU with 18 points, 15 coming from the three-point area, while Richard Escoto stepped up in the absence of Prince Orizu, had 11 points and five boards.
Clement Leutcheu had 11 points and nine rebounds to lead the Blazers, who dropped to 1-3.