Arellano remains unbeaten in four games, Jose Rizal U downs luckless Benilde
Arellano guard James Forrester drives against the defense of Adamson forward Rodney Brondial in their Filoil Flying V Pre-Season match on Saturday. (FCF / Ralph Samson)
Southwestern University ended their 2013 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Premier Cup campaign on Saturday by netting a big fish.
Against no less than the defending PCCL titleholders University of Santo Tomas, the defending CESAFI titleholders squeaked past with a slim 64-63 victory to finish their campaign on a three-game winning streak.
Melvin Holper, the younger brother of former PBA player Mike, finished with 10 points, including the gamechanging three-pointer with 1:46 left in the match. Guard Monbert Arong topped all scorers with 16 points, while big man Landry Sanjo tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Kevin Ferrer, who had the chance to win the game on a desperation trey at the buzzer, had 12 points and 5 assists for the Tigers. Karim Abdul also had 12 points together with 9 boards.
The Cobras finish with a 3-5 card, while UST drops to 1-2 with the loss.
Meanwhile, James Forrester led the charge from the first half to tow Arellano University to their fourth straight win to start the tournament at the expense of Adamson University via an 80-71 finish in the day’s main game.
The second year Fil-Canadian combo guard scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half charge, where the Chiefs led by 14 at the intermission. John Pinto tallied 10 points and 14 assists, while first year man Allen Enriquez scored 13 points on the receiving end of Pinto’s pinpoint passes.
Despite the deficit that ballooned to 26 throughout most of the first half, the Falcons keept within five points late in the game but were still denied by the red-hot Chiefs in the end.
Jericho Cruz, who scored 17 of his 24 points during the second half rally, topped all Falcons in the loss.
In a battle of two winless squads in the tournament, Jose Rizal University overcame Benilde, 87-75, in the day’s first men’s division matchup.
Ex-SBC guard Paolo Pontejos topped all scorers with 22 points and 4 assists, Philip Paniamogan added 18, and Michael Mabulac had 12 points and 11 rebounds to his name.
Mark Romero once again carried the flag for the still-winless Blazers with 15 points.
De La Salle University upended WNCAA powerhouse Centro Escolar University 63-52 in the lone women’s division match of the day.
The Lady Archers were led by the 22 point outburst by guard Trisha Piatos, while former UAAP rookie of the year Ara Abaca tallied a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Apet Pontejos topped the Lady Scorpions with 20 in the loss.
