Nic Cabañero buries OT game-winner as UST gets breakthrough; EAC stops streaking Perpetual

Nic Cabañero hit the game-winning floater right at buzzer to lift University of Santo Tomas to a 76-75 overtime victory against National University to crash to the winning column of Filoil EcoOil ECJ Preseason Cup on Wednesday.

The veteran forward escaped the defense of Patrick Yu before pulling up for the tight baseline floater to give the Growling Tigers their breakthrough after two straight losses to open the preseason tilt. 

Before that, it was also Cabañero's layup off an out-of-system play that cut UST's deficit to just one with nine seconds left in the game, 74-75. The Bulldogs had the chance to further create a safe cushion, but rookie Tebol Garcia muffed on his two charities that allowed UST to manufacture a last-gasp play.

Cabañero finished with 19 points, three rebounds, and one assist while Hinda Tounkara pumped in a double-double effort of 18 markers and 14 boards as they improved to 1-2. NU, on the other hand, fell to a 0-3 slate. 

Meanwhile, Emilio Aguinaldo College continued its promising start after halting the streaking University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 60-49, to go 2-0. 

The backcourt duo of Nicole Quinal and Harvey Pagsanjan worked wonders with the former churning out 14 points on three triples made while the latter chipped in 11 markers in the low-scoring affair. 

The ALTAs, which dropped their first game of the contest to go 3-1, leaned on JP Boral and rookie Mark Gojo Cruz, who had 13 and 10 points apiece. 

Colegio de San Juan de Letran has also won its second straight match, escaping Lyceum of the Philippines University with a 91-86 triumph behind youngsters Jimboy Estrada and Jonathan Manalili. 

Estrada shone with 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists while incoming rookie Manalili provided the lift off the bench with 14 markers, five boards, five dimes, and two steals as they hiked their standings to an even 2-2.

The Pirates, who reached the NCAA Season 99 Final Four last year, fell to a dismal 1-3 start. 

In other games, sister schools De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and De La Salle University picked up important wins against San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Adamson University. 

The Blazers eked out an 86-64 victory against the Golden Stags while the defending UAAP champion Green Archers rode on a strong fourth quarter to deny the Soaring Falcons, 80-72. 

Benilde improved to 2-1 while La Salle punched back-to-back wins to go 2-1. Both Adamson and San Sebastian remained on the hunt for their first wins, dropping to identical 0-3 cards. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News