Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
National University fanned its hopes for a quarterfinal spot in the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup with a 104-88 victory over St. Benilde Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
J-Jay Alejandro carried the load for the Bulldogs with 25 points, 19 coming in the first half, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals to improve his side to a 4-3 slate.
“J-Jay is probably one of the best shooters in college right now. If he’s open for half a second, 90-percent, he’s going to make it. But he still needs to do more and lessen the turnovers. We’re working in it and I hope he and the whole team keeps on improving,” said coach Jamike Jarin.
Dave Yu also added 12 markers and four boards, while Issa Gaye chimed in 10 points and six rebounds.
Reggie Morido got 10 markers and four assists, while Matt Salem also had 10.
NU jumped on the Blazers in the first half to take a 56-44 halftime lead before Yu drained a three to give the Bulldogs a 21-point edge, 87-66, with 9:16 left in the fourth period.
Matthew Johnson heated up for St. Benilde as he drained back-to-back treys to cut the deficit to 12, 95-83, before Morido and Anthony Sistoza quashed that uprising with consecutive hits in the last three minutes of the game.
The win set up NU in a collossal duel against University of the Philippines on Wednesday, with the winner claiming the fourth spot in Group B.
Johnson went 7-of-10 from threes to wound up with 21 points and four assists, while Clement Leutcheu got 15 markers and 11 rebounds for St. Benilde (1-7).
The Scores:
NU 104 – Alejandro 25, Yu 12, Salem 10, Morido 10, Gaye 10, Bartlett 9, Diputado 9, Aquino 5, Tibayan 3, Cauilan 3, Flores 2, Rangel 2, Sistoza 2, Mosqueda 2, Lastimosa 0, Galvelo 0, Go 0, Abatayo 0.
ST. BENILDE 88 – Johnson 21, Leutcheu 15, Haruna 9, Young 8, Belgica 7, Bunyi 7, Dixon 5, JJ Domingo 5, Naboa 4, San Juan 3, Pili 2, Velasco 2, Sta. Maria 0, JS Domingo 0, Suarez 0.
Quarters: 27-25, 56-44, 84-66, 104-88.