UE captures Filoil Flying V Preseason tourney
UE captures Filoil Flying V Preseason tourney
by Josef Ramos
Saturday, 14 June 2008 (507 Views, 33 Comments)
SMALL ball is the name of the game – at least for the preseason.
University of the East’s pace and quickness triumphed over San Beda’s height advantage as the Red Warriors scored a convincing 81-65 triumph and nailed the second Filoil Flying V Preseason Invitational Cup last June 14, 2008 at The Arena in San Juan City.
Paul Lee, who has been nursing a sprained ankle for the past three weeks, returned to the UE roster and poured in 20 of his 24 points in the final quarter to help bury the Red Lions.
“We lost two big players Kelvin (Gregorio) and Mark (Borboran), so we need to play small and live and die with,” said UE coach Dindo Pumaren. “I believe quickness remains our asset even in the coming UAAP.”
Lee’s four straight triples in the payoff period gave UE a 72-61 edge. Marcy Arellano, who had nine points, then made it 74-61 after hitting a jumper with less than two minutes left. The San Beda offense remained stagnant until the final buzzer, generating a measly four points.
Lanky big man Hans Thiele powered the Red Warriors’ frontline, scoring 16 points and collecting 11 boards, while ex-San Beda Red Cub James Martinez added 13 markers for the Recto-based squad.
Nigerian behemoth Sam Ekwe led the Red Lions with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Bam Gamalinda also scored 17, while Borgie Hermida chipped in with 13.
Down by eight at the end of the first quarter and six at halftime, San Beda College refused to give up and actually built a 50-45 lead with a few ticks left in the third period. Lee and the rest of the Red Warriors, however, broke the game wide open with a stellar offensive salvo in the last ten minutes of the contest.
Individual Scores:
UE 81: Lee 24, Thiele 16, Martinez 13, Arellano 9, Bandaying 8, Lingganay 4, Espiritu 2, Llagas 2, Etrone 2, Zamar 0.
SBC 65: Gamalinda 17, Ekwe 17, Hermida 13, Menor 6, Tirona 4, Lanete 2, Tecson 2, Marcelo 2, Taupa 2.
Quarter scoring: 12-20, 28-34, 50-47, 81-65
