The FEU Tamaraws will end their FilOil Preseason Cup on a positive note after taking down the Letran Knights for the bronze medal.
Far Eastern University bagged the bronze medal in the 17th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after closing out Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 80-78, at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Wednesday, June 12.
The bronze medal finish is FEU's second podium finish in three years in the FilOil Preseason Cup. In 2022, the Tamaraws finished in second after falling short to National University.
After blowing their 17-point lead in the first half, the Tamaraws had to play catch-up in the early parts of the fourth quarter.
Down 70-65, FEU turned to spitfire guard Jorick Bautista, who scored seven straight points to give the lead back to the Morayta-based squad.
Bautista then came up big once more as he delivered a booming three-point basket to give the Tamaraws a five-point lead at 78-73.
The Knights tried to muster all they could to come back after Deo Cuajao’s three-point shot, but in the end, Royce Alforque and Mohamed Konateh sealed the FEU win with their free throws.
“The guys really took the challenge [and] they listened to what I asked of them,” said new FEU coach Sean Chambers. “This [FilOil Preseason] Cup is amazing for me because it gives us a picture of what the UAAP will be like.”
Bautista led the way for FEU with 21 points to go along with three assists, and three rebounds. Alforque contributed 19 points, while Veejay Pre added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Cuajao, on the other hand, finished with a game-high 27 points, 21 of which came from beyond the arc. Jonathan Manalili, meanwhile, had 13 markers.
FEU 80 — Bautista 21, Alforque 19, Pre 13, Konateh 11, Bagunu 6, Daa 5, Ona 3, Godinez 2, Gordon 0, Felipe 0, Montemayor 0
LETRAN 78 — Cuajao 27, Manalili 15, Dimaano 10, Go 8, Galoy 5, Baliling 5, Montecillo 3, Pradela 3, Ariar 2, Jumao-As 0, Nunag 0, Tangkay 0, Alarcon 0
QUARTERS: 24-17, 49-38, 62-67, 80-78