Filoil Preseason: FEU sends Ateneo crashing to fourth straight loss
FEU’s Cholo Anonuevo. –FILOIL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University stunned Ateneo, 60-54, and kept them winless after four games in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup at San Juan Arena on Friday.
Defense was the Tamaraws’ bread and butter in the victory that sent them to a 4-3 record, affordingXyrus Torres and Cholo Anonuevo the open looks for 14 and 12 points, respectively.
“I always just tell them to play tough defense. We won because of our defense; that even despite our poor execution on offense, the effort on defense was there,” coach Denok Miranda said in Filipino.
Kai Ballungay was the silver lining in the Blue Eagles’ loss as the sole double-digit scorer with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Lyceum, meanwhile, sailed to its fifth straight victory after defeating fellow NCAA Season 98 Final Four competitor San Beda, 81-67.
John Barba took charge of the scoring load for the Pirates with 22 points while Enoch Valdez helped the cause with 15 points and eight rebounds to improve to a 6-2 card.
James Payosing scored 12 for the Red Lions, who bowed out of title contention with a 3-5 card.
Letran squeaked by Emilio Aguinaldo College, 68-66, behind Kevin Santos’ game-winning shot.
Santos only scored two points to go along with six rebounds but his only bucket came timely as he cleaned up a Kurt Reyson miss with the score tied at 66-all. Santos tipped the ball back up with two ticks to go in the game clock, 68-66.
Pao Javillonar dominated the paint for the Knights (5-2) with a double-double of 15 markers and 10 boards.
The Generals crashed to a 2-5 record but not without Nat Cosejo’s efforts to the tune of 22 markers.
National University, on the other hand, had the most dominant win of the day with a 105-60 beatdown of Centro Escolar University.
Kean Baclaan was the leader of the pack in the Bulldogs’ (4-2) victory with an all-around effort of 16 markers, two boards and two dimes.
Mark Anagbogu’s 16 points were put to waste as the Scorpions fell to a 1-6 record.
