FEU’s Royce Alforque in the Filoil EcOoil Preseason Cup. –FILOIL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Far Eastern University averted a losing streak with a confidence-boosting win over San Beda, 82-73, in Group B of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup in San Juan Arena on Wednesday.
Coming off a loss on Tuesday against University of the Philippines in the PBA D-League’s Aspirants Cup, the Tamaraws were more motivated in garnering a win.
“Yesterday we lost against UP and we don’t want to repeat it, so we said the next game ‘we’ll bring what we learned’ and eventually we got the win,” said Royce Alforque in the post-game press conference.
The FEU veteran posted 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
“We got back-to-back wins here but in the other tournament [PBA D-League] we’re not okay. The nice thing about today is that this will give us confidence,” FEU head coach Olsen Racela added.
The Tamaraws were up by 12, 62-50, in the third quarter when San Beda uncorked a 17-7 run to inch closer, 69-67. Bryan Sajonia sank an important triple to halt Beda’s run, 72-67.
In the fourth frame, the Red Lions were still in the Tamaraws’ rear-view mirror, 75-70, with 2:16 remaining before Alforque then went on a personal 4-0 run to will FEU to the finish line, 79-70.
Sajonia led FEU in scoring with 16.
Yukien Andrada tallied 15 points while Justine Sanchez and Bryle Bahio scored 14 apiece for the Red Lions.