MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons gained its first victory in the 2019 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup after taking down Arellano University Chiefs, 78-69, at the San Juan Arena.
Returning Jun Manzo and Ricci Rivero top-scored with 19 points each while Kobe Paras added 16 markers.
In this game, the Fighting Maroons was still without its key players, including siblings Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano.
But the victory allowed it to bounce back from a defeat to NCAA men’s basketball champions San Beda University Red Lions on Sunday for a 1-1 win-loss card in Group A.
Justin Arana, a transferee from University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, finished with 16 points for the Chiefs while Kent Salado added 10 markers in his first match since returning from ACL tear injury.
Adamson University Falcons and Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, meanwhile, also scored victories over Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, respectively.
The Falcons leaned on prized rookie recruit Aaron Fermin as they scored an 89-65 with over the Generals.
Fermin tallied 21 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 19 minutes.
Jerrick Balanza, meanwhile, spearheaded the attack for the Knights as they defeated the Heavy Bombers, 78-67. Balanza finished with 25 points to tie Falcons on top of Group B./PN
