MANILA, Philippines - Juan de Liano Gomez hit nine triples as University of the Philippines stunned multi-titled Hope Christian High School, 96-82, in the first Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup 2014 at the Enderun Colleges gym in Taguig City over the weekend.
The Junior Maroons bucked a slow start then seized control as Gomez found his rhythm, outscoring the Hope cagers, 24-15, in the second quarter to take the lead for good, 40-37.
Gomez sustained his form into the final half and went on to finish with 34 points on a solid 9-of-14 shooting from the three-point zone. He also knocked down all his three shots from the perimeter as UP bounced back from a 66-76 defeat to Far Eastern University to tie their victim at 1-1.
The Baby Tamaraws, Marvin Lee, Brandrey Bienes and Wendell Comboy, used a torrid start to beat Adamson, 87-74.
Lee buried five treys and topscored with 25 points while Bienes and Comboy chipped in 19 and 15 points, respectively, as FEU kept its share of the lead with Ateneo at 2-0 in the tournament sponsored by Smart Telecommunications, K-tech Sports, Inc., Powerbest Marketing, CW Home Depot, Powerhouse and Dickies Underwear.
Despite playing minus star players Jolo Mendoza and twin brothers Matt and Mike Nieto for the second straight game, the Eaglets still romped off with a 95-63 rout of the University of Perpetual Help Altalettes.
The three are all members of the Philippine Under-17 team which played recently in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai.
In the other game, Chiang Kai Shek College rebounded from a stinging defeat to Ateneo by crushing Diliman Preparatory School, 118-69.