UST Tigers’ Nic Cabañero delivers the game winner in win over NU Bulldogs in the Filoil Preseason Cup. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines— University of Santo Tomas and Letran outlasted their respective opponents as intensity-filled matches highlighted the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Wednesday.
The Growling Tigers outlasted National U Bulldogs, 76-75, in overtime courtesy of a Nic Cabañero game-winning floater.
Cabañero registered 19 points and three rebounds alongside foreign student athlete Hinda Tounkara, who registered 18 points and 14 rebounds to fuel UST to the win.
READ: Filoil Preseason: Nic Cabañero shows he’s still UST Tigers’ go-to guy
“I really felt it, even before overtime, when I sank a three, I thought, ‘I can do this, we can win this.’ I got that mentality and winning attitude from coach Pido and all the coaches,” said Cabañero.
Mohamed Diassana’s double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds and Reinhard Jumamoy 15 points for NU were all for naught.
Letran’s Jimboy Estrada during the Filoil Preseason Cup action. –HANDOUT PHOTO
Meanwhile, the Knights outlasted Lyceum, 91-86, behind Johnsherick Estrada’s efforts in the battle of NCAA teams.
Estrada dropped 18 points and six rebounds to power the Knights over the Pirates. Helping him on offense was Jonathan Manalili who had his fingerprints all over the ball with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.
John Barba had a game-high 19 points but it still wasn’t enough to win the preseason chapter of the “Battle of Intramuros.”
READ: UP opens Filoil preseason title defense with win over La Salle
JP Boral was the lone double-digit scorer for the Altas with 13 points in a losing effort.
College of St. Benilde dealt the same kind of damage to San Sebastian with an 86-64 drubbing.
Joshua Cajucom and Irele Galas tallied 10 points each to their name to pace the Blazers.
Raymart Escobido scored 13 in the Golden Stags loss. Leonardo Velasco Jr. and Ralph Gabat dropped 11 and 10 points, respectively, but it still wasn’t enough to come close to the Blazers.
La Salle zoomed past Adamson, 80-72 to cap off the Wednesday game date.
Jonnel Policarpio led the Green Archers on offense with 20 points and six rebounds to match. UAAP Season 86 double MVP Kevin Quiambao, meanwhile, did his usual thing with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
Over at the Soaring Falcons’ side, John Calisay top scored with 16 points while Manu Anabo also dropped 11 but to no avail.