UP, NU set up FilOil Preseason Cup Finals duel

University of the Philippines' three-peat bid will go through a tough challenger in National University as the two schools arranged a finals showdown in the 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Sunday. 

The Fighting Maroons overcame an early deficit to oust De La Salle University in their semifinals duel, 83-78, behind the troika of Rey Remogat, Gerry Abadiano, and Gani Stevens. 

Trailing by as much as 15 points and staring at a 45-31 halftime deficit, UP slowly got its act together to close out the third period all tied up with the Green Archers at 56-all. 

It was still La Salle's game in the fourth, but Remogat buried back-to-back booming triples that gave UP a 78-73 cushion in the final 23 seconds. 

Abadiano scored three straight points for a more comfortable 81-75 lead for the defending UAAP champions before La Salle made another desperate comeback attempt on a clutch corner triple from Kean Baclaan. 

But time just ran out for the Taft crew as Abadiano sealed the victory with a pair of free throws to send UP to another finals stint. 

Meanwhile, NU had the same story in its semifinals showdown against University of Santo Tomas, erasing a 14-point deficit to claim a 96-84 victory and advance to the championship round. 

Jake Figueroa once again starred for the Bulldogs, roaring with a team-high 24 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting while also grabbing five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. 

The Bulldogs didn't lack help from the supporting crew with Lenard Santiago chipping in 13 markers and three blocks. 

UP now looks to complete a rare three-peat feat in the preseason showcase against an NU team that won the championship in 2022 before the Fighting Maroons went on capturing the next two. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News