Letran clinches QF ticket in Filoil Preseason tilt; Arellano upsets Mapua

Colegio de San Juan de Letran is proving that it has returned to its lethal state, clinching the quarterfinals spot in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after 75-68 win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Friday. 

The Knights became the first team to book a playoff ticket as they improved to 7-1, good for solo lead in the NCAA bracket while the Stags remained winless at 0-8. 

Deo Cuajao continued to lead the Knights with 11 points while Jimboy Estrada and Jonathan Manalili each poured in 10 markers with the former also grabbing seven rebounds, two assists, and one block to lift the former three-time NCAA champions.

But even with the win and a quarterfinals seat, incoming second-year Letran head coach Allen Ricardo stressed the Knights still have plenty of work to do moving forward.

"Although we won the game, shaky on both ends, offense and defense. Hindi ko nakita 'yung tamang attitude at body language," said Ricardo.

In other games, Arellano University and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA gutted out wins to bolster their respective campaigns. 

The Chiefs squeaked past defending NCAA champion Mapua University with a nail-biting 76-73 win behind the heroics of guard T-mc Ongotan. 

Ongotan buried a triple that turned a slim 72-71 lead to a four-point advantage for the Chiefs in the final two minutes of the fourth period. But veteran Mapua guard Cyrus Cuenco responded with a layup off a Marc Igliane assist to cut the gap to two, 75-73. 

Ongotan then split his charities following a foul from Yam Concepcion, sealing it for an Arellano side that was coming off a two-point loss to surging Emilio Aguinaldo College. 

Perpetual, on the other hand, banked on a game-winning basket of Patrick Sleat to eke out a 65-64 win against Jose Rizal University. 

The former FEU standout buried a clutch floater with 29 seconds left to hand the ALTAs their second straight victory after a tough 1-4 start in the tournament. 

In the UAAP side of things, Far Eastern University turned to a big double-double outing from big man Mo Konateh in surviving Adamson University in overtime, 68-66. 

Konateh erupted for 23 points and 20 rebounds laced with three assists, four blocks, and two steals as the Tamaraws forced a two-way tie at second spot with UST at 3-1. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News