La Salle’s Michael Phillips. FILOIL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Returning Mike Phillips fueled La Salle to a 90-83 victory over University of the Philippines in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup at San Juan Arena on Saturday.
Phillips, who just arrived back in the country after playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, notched a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds to propel the Green Archers to their fourth straight win in as many games.
Kevin Quiambao also had significant contributions for La Salle with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
“It’s nice to have Mike and Ben [Phillips] back in the lineup, especially for this game, but what really worked for us was we didn’t give up,” said head coach Topex Robinson.
The Fighting Maroons dropped to a 3-2 card but not without Malick Diouf dropping a double-double in a losing effort with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
St. Clare stunned Far Eastern University in a close contest, 55-54.
Ahron Estacio stepped up to the plate with 14 huge points while Drick Acosta finished with seven points and five rebounds in the paint to spearhead the Saints to a 3-1 card.
The Tamaraws relied on James Tempra with 11 points but to no avail as they dropped to 1-3.
Letran, meanwhile, escaped Arellano, 83-77, behind a stellar game from Nicko Fajardo.
Fajardo topscored for the Knights (3-1) with 28 points while Kobe Monje added 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Axel Doromal was held to only seven points as they dropped to 0-2.
Mapua outlasted College of St. Benilde, 95-78, behind the tandem of Clint Escamis and Warren Bonifacio.
Escamis and Bonifacio combined for 38 points as the Cardinals hiked their record to 3-1.
The Blazers (3-2), meanwhile, are still dealing without Will Gozum but Prince Carlos picked up the slack in the loss with 17 points.