Tams outlast Bombers, post Filoil Cup 3rd win

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern U fended off a late charge by Jose Rizal U and hacked out an 87-85 victory to notch its third straight victory in the Filoil Flying V Pre-season Cup at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Tams took an eight-point lead, 87-79, with 1:40 left in the contest as the Bombers fought back behind MJ Dela Virgen and Darius Estrella to pull within four.

But after forcing another FEU turnover, JRU failed to convert, enabling the Tams to clinch the victory.

Both sides battled through 10 deadlocks and 14 lead changes with the last coming at the 5:28 mark of the fourth when Andrei Dulalia scored on a pick and roll to level the count at 75.

FEU countered with a 5-0 run to regain the lead for good.

Hubert Cani, Joe Nunag, and Brandrey Bienes each scored 13 points while Jasper Parker and Tuffin added 12 and 11, respectively, for FEU.

In other matches, National U trounced Emilio Aguinaldo College, 96-84, to post its first victory after three straight defeats.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 17 points late in the third period but the Generals rallied behind Jerome Garcia, whose assist and a triple cut the lead to 11.

But EAC failed to sustain its charge, enabling the Bulldogs to cruise to the 12-point romp.

John Lloyd Clemente scored 17 while the Ildefonso brothers, Shaun and Dave added 13 and 11, respectively, for NU, which also drew a double-double game from Ghanaian center Issa Gaye (10 points and 11 rebounds).

Rookie John Paul Maguliano topscored for EAC with 16 points and added five rebounds and five assists while Garcia chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists.