FilOil: UP Maroons bow to AU Chiefs

The Arellano University Chiefs toppled the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 74-66, Monday, in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup played at the FilOil Flying V Arena. Arellano has now won both its games thus far in the tournament, while the Maroons are winless in two tries in Group A play. "We were so undisciplined offensively and defensively," said Arellano head coach Koy Banal. "We were up by as much as 16 in the fourth quarter pero we played individually, that's why medyo dumikit sila. "We need to do a better job of closing out games," concurred James Forrester, "It's just all the mental aspect of playing basketball." The Fil-Canadian added that his team needs to do a better job of recognizing game situations and focusing on execution. Forrester tallied 18 points and six rebounds for the Chiefs. Nard Pinto added 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Keith Agovida and Gio Jalalon had 11 points and four rebounds apiece, while Jalalon chimed in with five assists. Center Prince Caperal finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. The Chiefs were attacking the basket to start the game, as James Forrester steered his team to an early 8-2 lead. Sam Marata countered for the Maroons, nailing two treys in a 10-2 run to give UP a two-point lead with under four minutes to play. The Maroons' defense improved as the quarter wound down, but on the other end, UP settled for jumpers early in the clock. Arellano would successfully penetrate the lane twice more, as Gio Jalalon and Ralph Salcedo returned the advantage to the Chiefs, 14-12. Scoring came in stretches for the Maroons, as reserves Julius Wong and JR Gallarza combined in a 9-2 run, 21-16, as UP withstood the Chiefs' drives. Arellano got their second field goal of the quarter with four minutes to play, a three-pointer by Forrester, to match one by Marata. The Chiefs then got the upper hand by taking advantage of UP's foul trouble, closing the half on a 13-6 run to lead after two, 34-42. At halftime, Arellano led 9-2 in second-chance points despite shooting 11-of-40 (28 percent) against UP's 11-of-26 mark (42 percent). The Chiefs held a 25-23 advantage on the boards, including 11-3 on the offensive glass. The Chiefs turned to Nard Pinto to get some separation after the half, and the sophomore initiated Arellano's offense around the paint. The Maroons however cut their deficit to just a point after Marata and Raul Soyud scored five straight, 42-41, but the Chiefs countered with cuts to the basket and transition offense, racking up a 13-3 run. State U was limited to outside shots for most of the period. As a result, the Maroons were held to just a single basket in the last six minutes, until Henry Asilum connected on a Hail Mary heave to end the third quarter, trailing 55-47. After a fast break bucket by Gio Jalalon, Arellano wasted no time in the fourth period, gutting UP's interior defense for an 11-3 run. Soyud tried to put up a fight, scoring four of UP's next six points halfway through the quarter, but the sophomore big man fouled out shortly afterwards. The Maroons made it interesting with three and a half minutes to play, as charities by Paul Desiderio and a Marata triple completed a 10-4 run, 70-62. The Chiefs called timeout but conceded split free throws to Marata. Levi Hernandez and Chris Ball then traded shots in transition, 72-65. Marata was fouled beneath the basket with under a minute to play, but split from the line anew. Prince Caperal replied with an elbow jumper on the next possession, icing the final score for the Chiefs. Arellano finished with a 28-of-74 mark from the field (38 percent), while UP went 21-of-63 (33 percent). The Chiefs finished with a 52-43 advantage in rebounds, including 19-13 offensive, leading to a 13-6 spread in second-chance points. Sam Marata led all scorers with 19 points and seven rebounds on 5-of-13 shooting, with all his makes coming on nine attempts from three-point range. Raul Soyud added 13 points and six rebounds, while fellow big man Chris Ball had five points and nine boards. - RAF/AMD, GMA News Quarter scoring: 14-12, 34-32, 55-47, 74-66