FILE–Ateneo’s Ian Espinosa. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo finally barged into the win column of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after notching a 77-52 win over Centro Escolar University at San Juan Arena on Monday.
Ian Espinosa led the fray with 12 points while Sean Quitevis nearly snagged a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Kai Ballungay helped the cause with 10 of his own for the 1-5 Blue Eagles.
“It is an experimental period, a developmental period and we need a lot of it. We’re trying to understand adjustments and adaptations that we need in our roster and it’s an ongoing process,” said coach Tab Baldwin.
CEU bowed out of contention with a 1-8 record but not without Daniel Marcelo tallying 18 points in the defeat.
College of St. Benilde also had a Monday to remember with an 84-78 victory over Lyceum to lock in a quarterfinals seat with a 6-3 card.
Miggy Corteza exploded with a 23-point outing while Paul Turco and Michael Mara registered 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Blazers.
Enoch Valdez’s all-around effort of 14 markers, five boards and two dimes was put to waste as the Pirates tied with the Blazers in the standings with a 6-3 card.
Letran, meanwhile, collared a 70-67 win over rival Mapua, 70-67, behind Kurt Reyson’s heroics in the Season 97 Finals rematch.
Reyson had an all-around game to the tune of 14 markers, eight boards and eight dimes to bolster the Knights to a 6-2 card while newcomer and former University of Santo Tomas cager Deo Cuajao had 12 to his name.
Adrian Nocum got himself 12 points in the loss while Warren Bonifacio had nine for the Cardinals (5-3).
National University, on the other hand, dealt a 142-69 beatdown to Faith College of Batangas.
Renzo Abiera (21) and John Lloyd Clemente (20) combined for 41 points to improve the Bulldogs’ record at 6-2.
The Bravehearts, meanwhile, remained winless after eight games in the preseason.