By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons secured a three-peat in the Playtime Cares 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup with a 79-65 romp of the National University Bulldogs in the one-game finals at the Playtime FilOil Center in San Juan City on Sunday night, July 27.
Negrense Harold Alarcon contributed seven points, four assists and one rebound, while Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano stepped up offensively with 13 points, three steals and two rebounds to be named MVP for UP.
“Hindi ko inaasahan o iniisip ‘yung award. Naglaro lang ako. Nag-stick lang sa nilalaro [ng] team. Nagkataon lang. Salamat kay coach at sa team ko na nagbigay ng kumpyansa sa akin,” Abadiano said.
“Para sa akin, ‘wag lang titigil sa pagtrabaho. Best interest. After nito, bagong araw, bagong challenges. ‘Wag makampante o mag-relax,” the former St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets guard added.
It was Abadiano as well who fired seven points in the Fighting Maroons’ 13-6 blast to increase a six-point lead midway through the second quarter into a 46-33 edge before halftime.
Their advantage ballooned to as big as 23, as the Bulldogs just couldn’t get going from the field where they shot just 31 percent, as well as the line where they missed 16 of 36 attempts.
Francis Nnoruka led the way for the Fighting Maroons with 15 points along with 12 rebounds, while Isagani Stevens chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
“Whatever we’re practicing, we try to apply sa game, kahit [sinoman ang] kalaban, offensively and defensively. We started well, need to be consistent,” Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde said.
“Takeaway is to play as a team. Unti-unti, natututo pa rin kami,” he said.
“Kung ano man ang kailangan ng team, hindi naman sila tumitigil to fill the pieces na nawala,” he added.
Jake Figueroa topped the scoring column for the Bulldogs with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Kenshin Padrones contributed 10 markers, while Jolo Manansala struggled with just six points. (ABS-CBN News)
UP 79 — Nnoruka 15, Abadiano 13, Stevens 13, Remogat 8, Torres 7, Alarcon 7, Fortea 6, Alter 4, Yniguez 3, Belmonte 2, Bayla 1, Briones 0, Felicilda 0.
NU 65 — Figueroa 12, Padrones 10, Santiago 9, Palacielo 6, Manansala 6, Francisco 6, Enriquez 4, John 4, Jumamoy 3, Garcia 3, Dela Cruz 2, Solomon 0, Parks 0, Navarro 0.
Quarterscores: 27-21, 48-37, 70-49, 79-65.