La Salle flexed its depth against Adamson in the first game of the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil Preseason Cup en route to a convincing 65-47 victory at the Playtime Filoil Centre on Sunday.
The Soaring Falcons actually held on to a 29-27 halftime lead behind rookie gunner Earl Medina who fired 11 points. Come the second half, however, the Green Archers stiffened up their defense and only allowed 18 points in total.
Several players connived for a 18-7 La Salle tear that overturned their halftime deficit, capped off by back-to-back threes from veteran Earl Abadam and transferee Jacob Cortez. In all, the green-and-white outscored their opponents, 38-18, in the last two quarters.
Abadam wound up with nine points, as Cortez also added eight markers and five rebounds. Kean Baclaan, another talent now done with his one-year residency, then contributed 12 points, eight dimes, four boards, and two steals.
“They really worked together. A lot of questions were raised when we both took them, sabi kulang daw yung bola. They proved them wrong,” said head coach Topex Robinson.
That was more than enough to ensure the Green Archers opened their post-Kevin Quiambao era with a big-time win, as new skipper Mike Phillips powered through for seven points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Medina finished with a team-high 14 points for the Mathew Montebon-less Soaring Falcons, flanked by Austin Ronzone with 11 markers.
Over in the NCAA bracket, Letran and Benilde took the early lead in the tournament which has Playtime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
Despite trailing for majority of the matchup, the Knights pulled a fast one on Arellano, getting a 72-68 win thanks to late-game heroics by Jonathan Manalili.
With a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter, Letran battled all the way back for a tie with three and a half minutes left. From there, it was the Manalili show, as he scored the last six points via free throws and a clutch corner three.
The rookie guard tallied 21 points, seven assists, and three steals, while Jun Roque chipped 14 points, albeit shooting a horrendous 6-of-20 from the field.
The Blazers also pulled off a great escape from Mapua, 58-56, to get their campaign off on the right foot.
It was reigning NCAA MVP Allen Liwag who came through in the clutch, as his and-one basket inside the last two minutes proved to be the difference. He ended with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Ivan Lazarte and Clint Escamis paced the Cardinals with 17 and 15 points, respectively, as the Chiefs’ losing effort was fronted by Anjord Cabotaje with 13 markers, as well as T-Mc Ongotan’s 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.
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