UP's JD Cagulangan in action against Ateneo in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, June 1, 2024 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. Handout/Filoil

MANILA -- The University of the Philippines secured the No. 1 seed in the 17th Filoil EcoOil ECJ Preseason Cup on Saturday, thanks to a hard-earned 82-75 win against rivals Ateneo de Manila University at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The victory in the preseason edition of the Battle of Katipunan improved UP's record to 6-0.

Veteran point guard JD Cagulangan led the way for UP with 16 points and two assists, while Dikachi Ududo (15 points, four rebounds) and Aldous Torculas (14 points, 10 boards) were also solid for the Fighting Maroons.

But it was the tandem of Harold Alarcon and reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez who sparked the pivotal 10-0 run that broke a 68-all deadlock midway through the final period and put UP in control of the contest.

Andrew Bongo notched 16 points and five boards while getting support from Shaun Tuano (16) and Mason Amos (14) for still-winless Ateneo. 

The Blue Eagles dropped to 0-5, putting them out of contention for the quarterfinals of the preseason showcase.

Meanwhile, the University of the East (3-3) stayed in the hunt after defeating the University of Santo Tomas, 66-60, behind a 15-point, 19-rebound double-double from Precious Momowei.

Angelo Crisostomo scattered 12 points and six rebounds for the Growling Tigers who fell to a 2-3 slate, as Nic Cabañero listed 11 points and seven boards and Peter Osang provided 15 boards and three points.

Adamson University turned back National University in overtime, 57-53, with Cedrick Manzano doing the heavy lifting with 19 points and eight rebounds. The Soaring Falcons are now 2-3.

The Bulldogs fell to 1-4 as Jolo Manansala's 15-point outing was not enough to power them to another win.

In the NCAA bracket, College of Saint Benilde remained atop the standings with a 5-1 slate, while Lyceum of the Philippines University improved to 2-6 after separate impressive wins. 

College of St. Benilde's Allen Liwag in action against San Beda University in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, June 1, 2024 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. Handout/Filoil

The Blazers pulled off a slim 71-69 win over San Beda University behind Allen Liwag’s 14 points and nine rebounds alongside Tony Ynot who wound up with 10 markers and four boards. 

The Pirates, for their part, registered their second win at the expense of Arellano University, 88-82, with Simon Peñafiel at the forefront of the attack with 26 points and two rebounds.

Renzo Abiera’s 32 points and four boards went down the drain for the Chiefs who fell to a 3-4 record, while Nygel Gonzales spearheaded the Red Lions with 18 markers and two boards as they slid into a triple-tie with Mapua University and University of Perpetual Help at 4-3.

THE SCORES:

FIRST GAME

UE 66— Abate 16, Momowei 15, Galang 15, Lingolingo 8, Cruz-Dumont 7, Robles 5, Spandonis 0, Jardinico 0, Fong 0, Go 0, Niric 0, Malaga 0, Pacheco 0, Maga 0, Palaroan 0, Mulingtapang 0

UST 60— Crisostomo 12, Cabañero 11, Paranada 9, Manaytay 6, Estacio 6, Pangilinan 5, Padrigao 4, Robinson 4, Osang 3, Castro 0, Andrews 0, Laure 0, Suba 0, Danting 0 

QUARTERS: 16-18, 31-37, 55-43, 66-60 

SECOND GAME 

LPU 88— Abiera 32, Dayrit 10, Valencia 10, Libang 8, Capulong 7, Hernal 4, Geronimo 4, Acop 2, Vinoya 2, Dela Cruz 2, Camay 1, Borromeo 0, Espiritu 0, Rosalin 0, Miller 0 

ARELLANO 82— Peñafiel 26, Montaño 17, Barba 15, Guadaña 11, Villegas 7, Aviles 6, Cunanan 2, Moralejo 2, Versoza 2, Lopez 0, Reyes 0 

QUARTERS: 29-17, 45-44, 70-63, 88-82 

THIRD GAME 

ADAMSON 57— Manzano 19, Anabo 8, Alexander 7, Mantua 6, Calisay 6, Ramos 4, Ignacio 2, Fransman 2, Mudianga 2, Ronzone 1 

NU 53— Manansala 15, Figueroa 12, Garcia 6, Yu 4, Enriquez 3, Santiago 3, Padrones 3, Lim 2, Diassana 2, Francisco 2, Gulapa 1, Dela Cruz 0, Jomamoy 0, Tulabut 0

QUARTERS: 16-9, 28-25, 32-33, 50-50, 57-53

FOURTH GAME

BENILDE 71— Liwag 14, Torres 10, Ynot 10, Sangco 9, Cometa 6, Ondoa 5, Morales 5, Ancheta 4, Galas 4, Eusebio 3, Turco 1, Cajucom 0, Serrano 0, Oli 0 

SAN BEDA 69— Gonzales 18, Tagle 13, Puno 12, Payosing 8, Sajonia 6, Bonzalida 3, Re. Calimag 3, Estacio 2, Celzo 2, Ri. Calimag 2, Tagala 0, Jalbuena 0, Torres 0, Royo 0

QUARTERS: 21-13, 39-33, 55-52, 71-69

FIFTH GAME 

UP 82— Cagulangan 16, Ududo 15, Torculas 14, Lopez 8, Alter 7, Alarcon 5, Bayla 5, Torres 4, Belmonte 3, Briones 3, Walker 2, Felicilda 0

ATENEO 75— Bongo 16, Tuano 14, Amos 10, Espinosa 9, Bahay 8, Porter 7, Koon 6, Quitevis 3, Lazaro 2, Ebdane 0, Ong 0, Reyes 0, Espina 0

QUARTERS: 22-18, 39-39, 63-60, 82-75