Filoil: Mapua sends UP to 0-2 start after shock win

Eric Jabel. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/ INQUIRER.net

Mapua University showed its fangs against preseason favorite University of the Philippines and delivered a shock 79-78 victory Sunday at the 2018 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Eric Jabel and Justin Serrano teamed up in helping the Cardinals erect a 75-67 lead in the final minute, while also holding off a belated uprising from the Fighting Maroons to start their preseason preparation on a good note.

Exe Biteng paced Mapua with 19 points and three rebounds, while Jabel got eight of his 13 in the fourth frame.

Laurenz Victoria contributed 12 points, five assists, and three boards, and Serrano just missed out on a double-double with his eight points and 10 rebounds.

“It’s the effort,” said coach Atoy Co. “We have less big men and more small players and that’s what we’re trying to do, to play fast and run. But what’s important for me is we play defense.”

The Cardinals did a good job of stifling the Fighting Maroons from long range, forcing them to shoot 26-percent from beyond the arc.

Juan Gomez de Liaño nailed two crucial treys to cut the lead down to two, 75-73 in the last 27.5 seconds, but Biteng was able to wiggle out of the UP defense to once again bring Mapua’s lead to 77-73 advantage and seal the win.

Bright Akhuetie carried UP with 30 points and 18 rebounds, while Paul Desiderio got 13 points and 10 assists, but shot a measly 1-of-8 clip from three as the Fighting Maroons dropped to 0-2.

The Scores:

MAPUA 79 — Biteng 19, Jabel 13, Victoria 12, Serrano 8, Salenga 8, Bonifacio 7, Pelayo 5, Pajarillo 3, Bunag 2, Lugo 2, Aguirre 0, Garcia 0.

UP 78 — Akhuetie 30, Desiderio 13, Ju. Gomez de Liaño 12, Murrell 9, Lim 4, Gozum 4, Manzo 3, Vito 2, Ja. Gomez de Liaño 1, Jaboneta 0, Dario 0, Longa 0.

Quarters: 19-15, 35-32, 55-56, 79-78.