Letran, Benilde punch QF slots in Filoil Preseason tiff 

Colegio de San Juan de Letran seemed to have regained its winning ways, while De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde continued to live up to its billing as the two schools booked the first tickets to the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup. 

The rebuilding Knights closed out their elimination round campaign with an impressive 7-2 slate while the Blazers are currently at 7-1 with only one game remaining in their group. 

The Knights, who are looking to recover from a lackluster campaign in NCAA Season 99, eked out an 84-81 victory against the Generals to end their pool action on a high note behind Deo Cuajao and Jimboy Estrada. 

Second-year guard Cuajao exploded off the bench with 22 points on top of two rebounds and three assists while transferee Estrada churned out 15 markers, four boards, four dimes, and one block. 

"So far, hindi pa rin kami satisfied, but on the positive side, siguro percentage-wise, noong nagsimula kami April until this first week of June, from 5 percent naging 15 percent na kami. Pero malayo pa yung tatahakin ng team namin," said Letran head coach Allen Ricardo.

Benilde, meanwhile, took care of its penultimate elimination round assignment after escaping a comeback act from University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 77-72.

John Morales and Matthew Oli connived to put away the pesky ALTAs, who crawled back from 19 points down before the Blazers held on to seal their seventh straight victory. 

Morales and Oli both top-scored with 14 points apiece with the latter also grabbing six rebounds and one steal. Jhommel Ancheta chipped in 13 points. 

“Whether we’re No. 1 or 2, it doesn’t matter, malakas naman lahat sa kabilang bracket. We’re gonna have four games, possibly five, in seven days if we make it to the semis. So it’s about being wise and preparing for the quarterfinals,” said head coach Charles Tiu.

Benilde will look to seal the top spot when it clashes with EAC on Thursday, but a loss will mean Letran will take over the top seed as the Knights won over the Blazers in their first meeting. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News