MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons clinched the 2023 FiloilEcoOil Preseason Cup championship after a 67-76 beating of De La Salle University Green Archers in the one-game finals on Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.
Incoming rookie Mark Belmonte spearheaded the offense with 18 points to go with five rebounds as the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball runners-up took home their first-ever FilOil crown.
Francis Lopez chipped in 16 markers, while JD Cagulangan, MaodoMalickDiouf and returning Crispin John Cansino contributed 10 markers apiece for UP, which bounced back from a 90-83 loss to DLSU in the regular season.
Belmonte made his biggest mark in the telling 23-4 scoring run that broke a 22-all deadlock late in the first quarter and built a massive 45-26 advantage midway in the second quarter.
The Green Archers, however, never gave up as they managed to cut the deficit to 73-82 with four minutes in the final quarter but three free throws by Cansino widened the Fighting Maroons lead anew at 85-73.
“We have a lot of respect for La Salle, they’re a really strong team. Angmaganda on our part, yung team really prepared for this, and thankfully, it showed,” said UP head coach Goldwyn Monteverde.
Adding to the Fighting Maroons’ championship is third-year guard Harold Alarcon being named as the Most Valuable Player after averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in the pre-season tourney.
The Silay City, Negros Occidental-native Alarcon, however, said that the pre-season tournament crown has no bearing as they have to prepare for the upcoming UAAP season.
“Siguroangmasasabikolangpo is no expectations,” said Alarcon, a former standout of Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts. “Kasiyung UAAP, ibayung ambience ng game kasi may mga scouting report na.”
“As a player, hindinamanako nape-pressure kasiyung mindsetko is yung team lang. Kung anongmakakabutisa team, kung anongmaitut ulongkosa team namin, yunlangyunggagawinko,” he added.
BOX SCORES
UP 87 – Belmonte 18, Lopez 16, Cagulangan 10, Diouf 10, Cansino 10, Alarcon 9, Abadiano 4, Briones 4, Alter 2, Torculas 2, Gagate 2, Felicilda 0, Torres 0.
LA SALLE 76 – Nelle 19, Nonoy 13, Policarpio 8, Quiambao 7, M. Phillips 7, Austria 7, Gollena 7, Abadam 4, Nwankwo 2, David 2, Escandor 0, Manuel 0, B. Phillips 0.
Quarterscores: 30-22, 54-45, 75-57, 87-76./PN
