Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
National University eliminated Gilas Pilipinas from playoff contention with an 86-81 escape in the 2018 Chooks-to-Go Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Tuesday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
John Lloyd Clemente unleashed 23 points, including the dagger basket that gave the Bulldogs an 85-79 cushion with 12.9 seconds left. Clemente also finished with seven rebounds and three assists.
Clemente also got ample support with rookie John Galinato adding 20 points and three assists, while Enzo Joson tallying 14 points, seven assists, and four boards.
Shaun Ildefonso also contributed 13 points and five rebounds to help NU improve to 2-3 in Group A.
“We’re maturing right now,” said NU coach Jamike Jarin.
“As I’ve been saying, this group of young men have the talent, the skill level. They’ll be very good in the coming years, but they are very young. We need to fasttrack our maturity and I think we’re maturing every game.”
NU survived the late barrage from the cadets, who leaned on Kobe Paras. Paras anchored an 11-0 run that put Gilas in front, 77-72, with 3:52 remaining.
But the Bulldogs responded with their own 11-0 surge behind Galinato, Joson, and Ildefonso to regain the lead, 83-77, with under 20 seconds to go.
Gilas Pilipinas fell out of playoff contention as it dropped to a 1-5 card.
Paras poured in nine of his 20 points in the belated fourth quarter fightback.
Abu Tratter also had 16 points and seven rebounds, while Juan Gomez de Liaño had 13.
The scores:
NU 86 — Clemente 23, Galinato 20, Joson 14, S. Ildefonso 13, Aquino 6, D. Ildefonso 4, Mosqueda 2, Tibayan 2, Gaye 1, Yu 1, Diputado 0, Gallego 0, Mangayom 0, Oczon 0, Sinclair 0.
GILAS 81 — Paras 20, Tratter 16, Gomez de Liaño 13, Alejandro 11, R. Rivero 9, Ambohot 4, V. Tolentino 4, Tamayo 2, Tuffin 2, Go 0.
Quarters: 21-26, 43-47, 66-63, 86-81.