Games today
4:30 p.m. – CSB vs FEU (Battle for third)
6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs San Beda(Championship)
MANILA, Philippines — Reigning UAAP champion Ateneo shackled Far Eastern U with its choking defense as it came away with a 50-38 victory last night to clinch the first finals berth in the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Cup at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
Coming off a tough 74-72 victory over the Letran Knights in the quarterfinals Thursday, the Eagles clamped down on defense early and went on to hold the Tams to an all-time worst scoring output by a team in a game.
“We didn’t do anything special or spectacular, we just stepped it up defensively, that’s the part of the game I’m happy with,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga, who filled in for head coach Tab Baldwin who stayed in Greece for an extended vacation.
Defending champion San Beda fended off a late charge by stubborn St. Benilde and pulled off a 78-71 win to make a return trip to the finals where it will face Ateneo in a duel between the country’s top two teams.
The scores:
First Game:
Ateneo 50 – Ravena 7, Asistio 6, Kouame 6, Verano 6, Go 5, Navarro 5, Ma. Nieto 5, Mi. Nieto 4, Belangel 3, Maagdenberg 3, Black 0, Mamuyac 0, Mendoza 0, Tio 0, Wong 0, White 0.
FEU 38 – Orizu 11, Cani 8, Tuffin 7, Escoto 4, Iñigo 4, Tolentino 3, Stockton 1, Bienes 0, Comboy 0, Eboña 0, Gonzales 0, Parker 0, Ramirez 0.
Quarterscores: 9-16, 21-22, 30-30, 50-38
Second Game
SAN BEDA 78 – Tankoua 14, Eugene 14, Mocon 13, Doliguez 11, Bolick 9, Canlas 6, Nelle 5, Abuda 3, Cuntapay 3, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Oftana 0, Cabanag 0
CSB 71 – Gutang 22, Leutcheu 15, Haruna 11, Pasturan 8, Belgica 4, Dixon 4, Naboa 3, Domingo 2, Pagulayan 2, Carlos 0, Young 0, Nayve 0, Velasco 0
Quarterscores: 20-19, 40-34, 54-53, 78-71